UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


GIFT    OF 

.......  C^e 

Class 


Report  of  Proceedings 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN 

MINING 

CONGRESS 


Tenth  Annual  Session 

Joplin,  Mo,,  November  1146, 1907 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 
At  the  Office;  of  the  Secretary,  Denver,  Colo.,  1908 


Report  of  Proceedings 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN 

MINING 

CONGRESS 


Tenth  Annual  Session 

Joplin,  Mo.,  November  11-16,  1907 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

At  the  Office  of  the  Secretary,  Denver,  Colo.,  1908 


Copyright,  1908,  by  the 

AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

DENY  E.R,  COLO. 


Press  of  the  Western  Newspaper  Union,  'Denver 


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INDEX 

Page 

Auditing  Committee,  report  of  ' 43 

Credentials  Committee 27 

Credentials  Committee,   report  of    53 

Delegates,  list  of    54 

Directors,  election  of  48 

Delegates  to  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress   106 

Election  of  Directors • 48 

Financial  Statement  of  Secretary 42 

How  the  Government  Can  Aid  the  Mining  Industry 33 

Increase  of  Membership  of  Board  of  Directors    c>5 

Invitation  to  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress   106 

Members,  annual  meeting  of  42 

Members,  list  of  60 

Nominating  Committee    44 

Nominating  Committee,  report  of    48 

Resolutions  Committee  30 

Revision  of  Mining  Laws  Committee,  report  of 28 

Safety  in  Coal  Operations  Committee,  report  of   113 

Smelter  Rate  Committee,  report  of    71-78 

Secretary's  Report  42 

Telegram  to  President  Roosevelt    34 

Vertical  Side  Line  Law  Committee,  report  of 38 

Protection  to  Mining  Investors  Committee,  report  of   88 

Place  of  Meeting — 

Los  Angeles,  California 110 

Douglas,  Arizona  110 

Chicago,  Illinois 110 

Columbus,  Ohio 110 

Reno,  Nevada   110 

PAPERS     AND     ADDRESSES 

Address  of  Welcome,  Gov.  Jos.  W.  Folk 9 

Address  of  Welcome,  Mayor  Jesse  F.  Osborne  13 

Response,  by  Judge  J.  H.  Richards    15 

Response,  by  Congressman  J.   C.   Floyd    16 

Response,  by  Col.  T.  J    Vest  18 

Response,  by  Hon.  John  Dern 19 

Response,  by  Col.  Thomas  Ewing   22 

Response,  by  Richard  Riepe   23 

Response,  by  Dr.  Victor  C.  Alderson   . . . . 25 

Response,  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Holmes    26 

Response,  by  Dr.  George  Otis  Smith 28 

The  Great  Southwest — The  Arizona  Delegation  97 

The  Importance  of  the  Mining  Industry    to     the  Commercial  and  In- 
dustrial Life  of  a  Nation— H.  J.  Cantwell 115 

A  Remedy  for  the  Law  of  the  Apex — Dr.  James  Douglas 122 

The  History  of  Gold  and   Silver — James  W.  Malcolmson 129 

The  Possibilities  and  Limitations  of  Geological  Survey  Work  as  Applied 

to  the  Mining  Industry — George  Otis  Smith 138 

International  Mining  Exposition,  Madison   Square  Garden,  New  York 

—William  M.  Porter 149 

The  Protection  of  Mineral  Lands  from  Agricultural,  Timber  Entry,  or 

Other  Patent— Lewis  E.  Aubury   -. 152 

The  Man  Who  Stakes  Claims  Everywhere:  Does  He  Assist  or  Retard 

the  Development  of  the  Mining  Industry? — Randall  H.  Kemp 155 

Sliding  Scale  Royalty — Louis  D.  Huntoon 158 


183243 


4  INDEX 

Mining   Engineering   Education   in   the   United    States — Dr.    Victor   C. 

Alderson 162 

What  Can  the  Profession  Really  Expect  from  the  Mining  School  Gradu- 
ate?—Milnor  Roberts 172 

Secondary    Technical    Education    Applied     to     Mining — Prof.    Lewis 

.Young    : 178 

Relation  of  the  Mining  School  to  the  Mining  Industry — Prof.  Robert 

H.  Richards 185 

Some    Suggestions    Concerning   the    Training    of    Mining   Engineers — 

Robert  Peele    189 

The  Value  of  Correspondence  Instruction  to  the  Mining  Man — H.  H. 

Stoek    199 

Gypsum:  Where  Found,  Its  Use  and  Its  Manufacture— C.  O.  Bartlett  . .  .215 

Tariff  on  Zinc  Ores — S.  Duffield  Mitchell    219 

How  Long  Will  Our  Coal  Supplies  Meet  the    Increasing    Demands    of 

Commerce? — Edward  W.    Parker 239 

Prospecting  for  Oil  and  Gas — Dr.  Erasmus  Haworth 247 

The  Deflocculation  of  Non-Metallic  Amorphous  Bodies — Edward  Good- 
rich Acheson  256 

Will  tlie  Production  of  Gold  in  the  World  Keep  Pace  With  the  Increas- 
ing Demands  of  Commerce  and  Trade? — Dr.  Waldemar  Lindgren.  .265 

Discussion  of  Same  37 

Conservation  of  the  Nation's  Mineral  Resources — Dr.  J.  A.  Holmes  .  . .  .272 

Lead  and  Zinc  Resources  of  Missouri — Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley 2^2 

Annual  address  of  the  President — Hon.  John  H.  Richards  298 

COMMITTEES 

Committee  on  Credentials   53-27 

Committee  on  Revision  of  Mining  Laws,  report 28 

Committee  on  Resolutions 30 

Committee  on  Vertical  Side  Line  Law    38 

Committee  on  Nominations    44 

Committee  on  Smelter  Rates,  report  of 71-78 

Committee  on  Protection  to  Mining  Investors,  report  of 88-113 

Committee  on  Safety  in  Coal  Mining  Operations  . ,- 113-114 

RESOLUTIONS 

Reservation  of  Minerals  in  Land  Patents  Otherwise  Classified — Lewis 

E.  Aubury   : 30-52 

Licensing  of  Mining  Engineers — W.  H.  Graves  30 

Duty  on  Zinc  Ores — Samuel  R.  House   31-85 

Department  of  Mining— H.  S.  Joseph   31-109 

Creating    Official     Experiment     Station    for    American    Mining    Con- 
gress— John  Dern   40-99 

Concerning  Fraudulent  Mining  Schemes— F.   C.   Vincent    42-97-113 

Of  Thanks— The  Committee 84 

Concerning  Reports   on   Mining   Properties    by    Officers    of    the    Con- 
gress—H.  J.  Cantwell   85-97 

Concerning  International  Mining  Exposition — Frank  E.  Wire   86 

Bureau  of  Mining  and  Engineering  Investigation — J.  H.  Richards .  .  86-87 
Reports    on    Standing   of    Mining    Engineers— Dr.    E,    R.    Buckley.  .32-52 
Removal  of  Restrictions  on  Sale  Indian  Land  Allotments— W.  T.  Si- 
dell 39-96 

Invitation  to  National  Association  of  State  Mining  Schools— Victor  C. 

Alderson 40-53 

Concerning  Amendments  to  Alaskan  Mining  Laws — J.  F.  Callbreath.  .104 

Concerning  Disposition  of  Public  Lands — J.  H.  Richards   105 

Resolutions  of  Thanks > 


INDEX  5 

To  Dr.  E.  R.   Buckley 111 

To  Smelter  Rate  Committee    Ill 

To  Mining  Fraud  Committee    Ill 

]  To  Citizens  of  Joplin 84 

|  To  President  Richards   114 

|  To  Secretary   Callbreath    114 

SPEAKERS 

Acheson,   E.   G. 256 

Alderson,  Victor  C 101 

Buckley,  E.  R 32-34-37 

Brimhall,   Geo.    H Iu3 

Callbreath,  J.  F 36-46-50-114 

Cantwell,  H.  J 36-103-104-109 

Daniels,  W.  P ' 35 

Dern,  John    " 50-84-101 

Dorsey,  Geo.  W.  E 102 

Downey,  C.  J 88-107-113 

Garfield,  James  R 40 

Gregg,  H.   H 85 

Galigher,  Carl 47-112 

Hague,   Jas.    D 38 

Holmes;  J.  A • 48 

Howell,  T.   M 103 

Ingalls,  W.   R 28-81 

Joseph,  H.  S 29-47-70-77-81-83-102 

Kemp,   Randall   H 31-49-87 

Lindgren,  Waldemar 37 

Los  Angeles  Mining  Stock  Exchange  38 

Malcolmson,  James  W 82 

Mills,  W.  F.  R. 102 

Parker,   E.  W 239 

Richards,  J.   H 33-35-45-51 

Riepe,  Richard  A 23-70 

Riter,  Geo.  W , 81-82 

Scaife,   H.   L 108 

Smith,  Geo.  Otis   28 

Stoek,  H.   H 113 

Vincent,   F.   C :  .  . : 44-46-49-106-113 

White,  F.  Wallace .35-41 

Wire,  Frank  E 49 

Winchell,  Horace  V '. .  .   37 

Wood,  Jno.  R .  .  34-99-100 


Official  Roster 


OF  THE 

Officers  and  Committees  of  the  American  Mining  Congress 

1906 

OFFICERS. 

J.    H.    RICHARDS President 

THOMAS    EWING First    Vice    President 

E.  R.  BUCKLEY Second  Vice  President 

B.  A.  COLBURN Third  Vice  President 

J.    F.    CALLBREATH,    JR Secretary 

DR.  W.  S.  WARD : Curator 

DIRECTORS. 

J.   H.   Richards Boise,   Idaho 

Thomas  Ewing. San  Francisco,  California 

E.  R.   Buckley Rolla,   Missouri 

E.  A.  Colburn . Denver,  Colorado 

George  W.  E.  Dorsey . . . Fremont,  Nebraska 

C.  M.    Shannon Clifton,    Arizona 

John  Dern . Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

James  W.  Malcolmson El  Paso,   Texas 

J.  Frank  Watson Portland,  Oregon 

COMMITTEES— 1905-6. 

PROGRAM. 

E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  M.  DeLavergne,  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado;  Victor  C.  Alderson,  Golden,  Colorado;  Edward  H.  Benjamin, 
San  Francisco,  California;  C.  Willard  Hayes,  Washington,  D.  C. 

BUILDING. 

David  H.  Moffat,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado; 
A.  J.  Spengel,  Denver,  Colorado. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

Sam  F.  Dutton,  Denver,  Colorado;  A.  G.  Brownlee,  Idaho  Springs, 
Colorado;  Edward  J.  Wilcox,  Denver,  Colorado;  Henry  I.  Seeman,  Denver, 
Colorado;  J.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Denver,  Colorado. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

E.  G.  Reinert,  Denver,  Colorado;  J.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Denver,  Colo- 
rado; E:.  rM.  DeLavergne,  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

MINE  DRAINAGE  DISTRICTS. 

D.  W.  Brunton,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  Lyman  White,  Denver,  Colo- 
rado; F.  J.  Campbell,  Denver,  Colorado;  Phillip  Argall,  Denver,  Colorado; 
R.  S.  Morrison,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado. 

MINING  TEMPLE. 

J.  H.  Richards,  Boise,  Idaho;  E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado;  Col. 
Thomas  Ewing,  San  Francisco,  California. 

DEPARTMENT   OF  MINING. 

Hon.  R,  W.  Bonynge  of  Colorado,  Hon.  Francis  Newlands  of  Nevada, 
Hon.  C.  M.  Shartel  of  Missouri,  Hon.  Marcus  A.  Smith  of  Arizona,  Hon. 
William  Sulzer  of  New  York. 

STATE  LEGISLATION  AGAINST  MINING  FRAUDS. 
Hon.   George  C.   Pardee,   Sacramento,   California;     Hon.    Robert    M. 
LaFollette,  Madison,  Wisconsin;    Hon.  Joseph  W.   Folk,   Jefferson   City, 
Missouri;  Hon.  Eben  W.  Martin,  Deadwood,  South  Dakota;   Hon.  Fred  T. 
Dubois,  Boise,  Idaho. 


Official  Roster 

OF  THE 

Officers  and  Committees  of  the  American  Mining  Congress 

1  907 

OFFICERS. 

J.    H.    RICHARDS President 

THOMAS    EWING First    Vice    President 

E.  R.  BUCKLEY Second  Vice  President 

E.  A.  COLBURN Third  Vice  President 

J.    F.    C ALLBRE ATH,    JR Secretary 

DR.  W.  S.  WARD Curator 

DIRECTORS. 

J.   H.   Richards Boise,   Idaho 

Thomas  E  wing Vivian,  Arizona 

E.   R.   Buckley Rolla,   Missouri 

E.   A.   Colburn Denver,    Colorado 

George  W.  E.  Dorsey Fremont,   Nebraska 

C.   M.  Shannon . .  Los  Angeles,  California 

John  Dern : Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

A.  L.  White Lima,   Ohio 

W.  F.  R.  Mills ' Denver,  Colorado 

COMMITTEES— 1907. 
LOCAL  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Colonel  H.  H.  Gregg,  Joplin,  Missouri Chairman 

Temple  Chapman,  Webb  City First  Vice  Chairman 

J.  W.  Watson,  Baxter  Springs,  Kansas Second  Vice  Chairman 

Gabriel  Schmuch,  Galena,  Kansas Third  Vice  Chairman 

T.    W.    Cunningham,    Joplin,    Missouri Treasurer 

Clay  Gregory,  Joplin,  Missouri Secretary 

PROGRAM. 

Dr.  E.R.Buckley,  Rolla,  Missouri;  T.  A.  Rickard,  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia; E.  Lyman  White,  Denver,  Colorado. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

W.  F.  R.  Mills,  Denver,  Colorado;  Col.  A.  G.  Brownlee,  Idaho  Springs, 
Colorado;  J.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Denver,  Colorado. 

WAYS  AND  MEANS. 

John  Dern,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Col.  Thomas  Ewing,  Vivian,  Ari- 
zona; Col.  George  W.  E.  Dorsey,  Fremont,  Nebraska;  F.  Wallace  White, 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  Judge  E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado. 

AUDITING  COMMITTEE. 

E.  Lyman  White,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  G,  Reinert,  Denver,  Colorado. 
MINING   TEMPLE   BUILDING. 

Governor  Henry  A.  Buchtel,  Denver,  Colorado;  Hon.  Meyer  Friedman, 
Denver,  Colorado;  Hon.  J.  H.  Richards,  Boise,  Idaho. 

PROTECTION   AGAINST   MINING  FRAUDS. 

C.  J.  Downey,  Denver,  Colorado;  R.  L.  Herrick,  Scranton,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Hon.  A.  W.  Mclntire,  Everett,  Washington;  Hon.  H.  C.  Beeler. 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming;  Judge  William;  F.  Clark,  Glover,  Vermont. 


8  OFFICIAL    ROSTER 

SMELTER  RATES 

E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado  (Chairman) ;  E.  M.  DeLavergne, 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado;  George  W.  Riter,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  H. 
S.  Joseph,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Dr.  L,  D.  Godshall,  Needles,  California. 

VERTICAL   SIDE  LINE  LAW. 

James  D.  Hague,  New  York  City;  John  A.  Church,  New  York  City; 
R.  A.  F.  Penrose,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania;  Charles  J.  Hughes,  Jr.,  Den- 
ver, Colorado;  Hon.  Thomas  Kearns,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

PREVENTION  OF  MINE  ACCIDENTS. 

H.  Foster  Bain,  Urbana,  Illinois;  F.  W.  Parsons,  New  York;  H.  H. 
Stoeck,  Scranton,  Pennsylvania;  B.  F.  Bush,  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Herman 
B.  Hesse,  Frosburg,  Maryland. 

GENERAL  REVISION  OF  MINING  LAWS. 

W.  R.  Ingalls,  505  Pearl  street,  New  York;  J.  Parke  Channing,  42 
Broadway,  New  York;  J.  R.  Finlay,  71  Broadway,  New  York;  John  Hays 
Hammond,  New  York;  Dr.  James  Douglas,  New  York. 


Officers  for  the  Year  1908 


PRESIDENT, 
J.  H.  Richards. 

VICE  PRESIDENTS, 

Thomas  Ewing,  E.  R.  Buckley, 

John  Dern. 

DIRECTORS, 
J.  H.  Richards,  Boise,  Idaho. 

Thomas  Ewing,  Vivian,  Arizona. 

E.  R.  Buckley,  Rolla,  Missouri. 

E.  A.  Colburn,  Denver,  Colorado. 

George  W.  E.  Dorsey,  Fremont,  Nebraska. 

W.  F.  R.  Mills,  Denver,   Colorado. 

John  Dern,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Charles  M.  Shannon,  Los  Angeles,  California. 

A.  L.  White,  Lima,  Ohio. 

SECRETARY, 
James  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Denver,  Colorado. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Thomas  Ewing,  E.  A.  Colburn 

W.  F.  R.  Mills. 


OFFICERS    AND    DIRECTORS 


COL,.   THOMAS   EWING 

First  Vice  President 

Vivian,  Arizona 


DR.    E.    R.    BUCKLEY 

Second    Vice    President 

Rolla,   Missouri 


HON.    J.    H.    RICHARDS 

President 
Boise,   Idaho 


Hon.    E.    A.    COLBURN 
Denver,     Colorado 


JAS.  F.  CALLBREATH,  JR. 

Secretary 
Denver,  Colorado 


AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 


C.    M.    SHANNON 
Los    Angeles,    California 


COL,   GEO.   W.   E.  DORSET 
Fremont,    Nebraska. 


JOHN  DERN 
Third  Vice  President 
Salt    Lake    City,    Utah 


A.  L.  WHITE 
Lima    Ohio 


W.    F.   R.    MILLS 
Denver,  Colorado 


REPORT  OF  THE  PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE 

Tenth  Annual  Session  of  the  American  Mining  Congress 

Held  at  Joplin,   Missouri,   November    11    to   16    Inclusive,    1907 


MONDAY,    NOVEMBER    11,    1907. 

Evening  Session. 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  H.  H.  Gregg  of  Joplin,  Missouri,  Chairman 
of  Committee,  at  8  o'clock,  p.  m.,  Monday,  November  11,  1907. 

Invocation  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jeffries  of  Carthage,   Missouri. 

Music  by  the  Apollo  Club. 

Hon.  Jos.  K.  Folk,  Governor  of  Missouri,  was  then  introduced  and 
delivered  the  following  Address  of  Welcome: 

GOVERNOR  FOLK:  Mr.  Chairman,  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention, 
Men  and  Women  of  Joplin: 

It  affords  me  pleasure  to  welcome  this  distinguished  assemblage  to 
Missouri.  It  is  peculiarly  proper  that  this  convention  should  meet  here 
in  Joplin,  the  richest  spot  in  all  the  world.  Nowhere  on  this  earth  can 
richer  mining  property  be  found  than  in  the  district  of  which  Joplin  is 
the  capital.  Joplin  today  has  something  like  40,000  inhabitants.  I  pre- 
dict that  in  a  few  years  Joplin  will  be  a  city  of  75,000  people,  and  the 
output  will  increase  from  $15,000,000  to  $20,000,000  a  year,  to  $25,000,000  to 
$30,000,000  a  year. 

Those  of  you  who  come  from  other  states  may  be  surprised  to  learn 
of  the  rarity  of  conflict  here  between  capital  and  labor.  Under  the  indi- 
vidual system  of  mining  in  this  district,  the  laborer  of  today  may  become 
the  capitalist  of  tomorrow  and  labor  troubles  are  practically  unknown. 

You  of  this  convention  represent  an  annual  output  of  $1,800,000,000. 
Each  year  the  interests  represented  here  give  to  the  country  something 
like  $100,000,000  of  gold  to  go  into  the  arts  and  into  the  commerce  of  the 
country.  There  is  no  industry  in  this  nation  that  exceeds  in  value 
the  output  of  the  mining  industry  except  the  agricultural  interests,  and 
there  is  one  thing  that  should  be  done  for  the  mining  interests 
of  this  country  in  order  to  do  justice  to  those  interests;  that  is,  to  have  a 
National  Bureau  of  Mining,  and  a  member  of  the  Cabinet  secretary  of  it. 
(Applause.) 

I  am  glad  to  welcome  you  to  Missouri.  Mining  was  carried  on  profit- 
ably in  this  state  one  hundred  years  before  the  first  mine  was  discovered 
in  California.  The  mining  interests  of  this  state  are  second  to  those  of 
no  other  state  in  this  Union.  Someone  has  remarked  upon  the  pride  all 
Missourians  feel  in  their  state.  There  is  every  reason  that  this  should  be 
so.  If  a  wall  were  built  around  Missouri  the  state  could  still  supply  every 
want  of  those  within.  There  are  fewer  mortgaged  homes  in  Missouri  than 
in  any  other  manufacturing  state,  fewer  mortgaged  farms  than  in  any 
other  agricultural  state,  and  fewer  mortgaged  men  than  in  any  of  the 
United  States.  One-tenth  of  the  wheat  and  one-twelfth  of  the  corn  of 
the  entire  world  are  grown  in  Missouri.  In  horticulture  as  well  as  in 
agriculture  Missouri  leads  the  other  states.  The  largest  orchards  on  the 
globe  can  be  found  in  Missouri.  We  have  no  silver  mines  of  consequence, 
but  the  output  of  the  Missouri  hen  each  year  exceeds  in  value  the  total 
production  of  all  the  silver  mines  of  Colorado.  (Applause.)  We  have  no 
gold  mines,  but  the  minerals  the  miners  bring  up  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  into  the  Missouri  sunlight  each  year  exceed  in  value  the  total  min- 
eral production  of  the  golden  state  of  California.  (Applause.)  Nine- 
tenths  of  the  nickel,  four-fifths  of  the  zinc,  of  the  United  States,  are  pro- 
duced in  Missouri,  and  sixty  per  cent,  of  it  right  here  in  the  Joplin  dis- 
trict. (Applause.)  We  have  no  oil  wells,  but  26,000  square  miles  of  Mis- 
souri soil  are  underlaid  with  coal  deposits  of  an  approximate  value  of 


10  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

$400,000,000,000.  Missouri  horses  can  be  found  in  every  part  of  the  civil- 
ized world  and  the  Missouri  mule  carries  the  white  man's  burden  to  the 
remotest  parts  of  the  earth.  (Applause.)  Missouri  has  more  large  cities 
than  any  other  agricultural  state,  and  has  more  agricultural  and  mining 
interests  than  any  other  state  with  large  cities.  With  St.  Louis  on  the 
east,  the  great  metropolis  of  Kansas  City  on  the  west,  St.  Joseph  in  the 
northwest,  with  Springfield  and  Joplin  in  the  southwest,  a  ready  market  is 
afforded  for  the  products  of  mine,  of  field,  of  forest  and  of  factory  in  every 
part  of  the  commonwealth.  In  Missouri  about  $10,000,000  are  spent  every 
year  on  public  education — nearly  four  times  as  much  as  it  costs  to  main- 
tain the  state  government.  Missouri's  tax  rate  is  lower  than  that  of  any 
state  in  the  Central  West  or  in  the  South,  and  yet  Missouri's  permanent 
school  fund  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  state  in  the  Union.  There 
is  a  schoolhouse  within  reach  of  every  Missouri  child  and  the  percentage 
of  school  attendance  in  Missouri  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  state 
in  the  Union.  (Applause.)  The  percentage  of  illiteracy  is  less  by  nearly 
fifty  per  cent,  than  the  average  in  the  United  States.  (Applause.)  In 
every  state  there  are  some  counties  where  illiteracy  rules.  That  cannot 
be  said  of  Missouri.  There  is  not  a  county  in  this  state  that  can  be  said 
to  be  illiterate.  More  newspapers  and  periodicals  circulate  in  Missouri  in 
proportion  to  the  population  than  in  Massachusetts.  More  books  are  read 
from  the  public  libraries  in  Kansas  City  than  in  Boston.  Everywhere 
virtue  is  honored  and  God  is  worshipped.  Secure  in  her  natural  position 
as  the  future  commercial  center  of  these  States,  strong  in  her 
unparalleled  resources,  confident  with  that  assurance  which  is  born  of 
success;  conscious  of  her  dignity  and  power,  Missouri  stands  in  the  front 
rank  of  civilization  today,  not  demanding  but  acknowledging  the  majesty 
of  all.  Proud  of  her  past  achievements,  yet  looking  to  the  future;  satis- 
fied with  her  progress,  yet  determined  that  the  future  shall  far  excel  the 
brilliant  past;  however  great  in  natural  resources;  however  potent  in 
achievement,  in  the  varied  fields  of  arts  and  usefulness,  Missouri's  dear- 
est and  fairest  possessions  are  her  men  and  women.  It  is  these  that 
have  made  Missouri  great.  It  is  these  who  hold  the  idea  that  citizenship 
in  a  free  country  implies  a  civic  obligation  to  enforce  the  performance 
of  every  public  trust;  it  is  these  that  have  the  idea  that  laws  are  made 
to  be  obeyed,  not  to  be  ignored  (applause) ;  it  is  these  who  believe  that 
there  is  an  embezzlement  of  power  as  well  as  an  embezzlement  of  money 
(applause) ;  it  is  these  who  believe  that  patriotism  belongs  not  only  to 
nations,  not  only  to  states,  not  only  to  cities,  but  to  one's  fellow-men  as 
well.  What  a  change  has  come  over  the  minds  of  the  people  in  refer- 
ence to  that  word  "patriotism."  Some  five  years  ago  there  was  held  in 
one  of  our  distant  cities  a  banquet  attended  by  a  number  of  prominent 
business  men.  After  the  repast  was  over  the  band  played  "America"  and 
the  audience  stood  and  sang  the  familiar  words.  As  the  last  strains  of 
the  song  died  away,  one  of  those  present  turned  to  his  neighbor  and  with 
the  tears  trickling  down  his  cheeks  he  said,  "Oh,  I  wish  I  could  die  for 
my  country!"  Just  three  weeks  after  that,  that  same  man  was  humbly 
kneeling  at  the  feet  of  justice,  confessing  that  he  had  bribed  a  municipal 
assembly  to  pass  a  franchise  to  further  one  of  his  interests..  He  was 
willing,  he  said,  to  die  for  his  country,  but  his  conduct  showed  that  he 
was  unwilling  to  live  for  his  country.  He  had  patriotism  on  his  lips  and 
he  had  treason  in  his  heart. 

Many  men  would  be  willing,  if  need  be,  to  give  up  their  lives  on  field 
of  battle  for  state  or  for  country,  but  the  man  that  will  live  for  his 
country  and  his  state  every  day  is  the  man  that  is  needed  just  now. 
(Applause.) 

There  may  be  just  as  much  patriotism  in  living  for  one's  state  or  city 
as  in  dying  for  one's  state  or  city.  Patriotism  does  not  abide  alone  in  the 
roar  of  cannon,  amid  the  din  and  clash  of  arms,  but  in  the  every-day  du- 
ties of  civic  life  as  well.  There  is  a  patriotism  of  peace  as  well  as  a  pa- 
triotism of  war.  The  man  who  gives  his  time  to  the  betterment  of  civic 
conditions  and  in  getting  better  men  into  office,  may  be  just  as  patriotic 
as  he  who  bares  his  breast  to  the  bullets  of  the  public  enemy  in  time  of 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  11 

war.  "How  may  I  serve  my  city  and  state?"  may  be  asked.  There  never 
was  a  time  when  men — real  men — were  needed  more  than  now.  We  need 
more  men  influenced  alone  by  the  public  welfare — and  fewer  of  those  who 
are  in  politics  for  revenue  only.  (Applause.)  I  do  not  refer  to  the  need 
for  men  in  public  office  alone,  for  one  does  not  have  to  hold  public  office 
in  order  to  serve  his  city,  his  state  or  his  country.  Some  of  the  greatest 
men  of  the  nation  have  never  held  public  office.  True  greatness  consists 
in  service — service  of  one's  fellow-men,  service  of  one's  state,  service  of 
one's  city.  If  one  can  do  that  in  public  office,  well  and  good,  but  do  not 
forget  that  it  is  just  as  essential  for  private  citizens  to  discharge  the 
responsibilities  resting  upon  them  as  it  is  for  the  faithful  carrying  out 
of  official  obligations  in  the  public  service.  Missourians  believe  in  liberty 
— liberty  under  the  law;  liberty  to  make  law  does  not  mean  license  to 
break  law.  Lawlessness  is  not  liberty. 

There  are  some  who  have  the  idea  that  this  may  not  be  a  free  country 
because  one  cannot  sell  game  out  of  season,  or  gamble  or  sell  liquor  at 
times  the  law  says  they  shall  not  do  so,  or  do  other  things  that  may  be 
permitted  in  some  other  places.  No  greater  mistake  can  be  made.  There 
can  be  no  such  thing  as  real  liberty  without  laws  which  a  majority  of 
the  people  made,  and  to  which  obedience  and  respect  are  given.  The  laws 
are  the  people's  laws  made  in  the  exercise  of  their  liberty,  and  if,  after 
those  laws  are  made,  they  are  not  obeyed,  the  liberty  of  the  majority 
of  the  people  to  make  the  laws  is  taken  away  to  the  extent  their  law  is 
nullified.  If  we  allow  each  man  to  say  what  laws  are  good  and  what 
laws  are  bad,  the  result  would  be  there  would  be  no  laws  at  all.  The  trust 
magnate  looks  with  abhorrence  on  the  pickpocket  who  violates  the  lar- 
ceny statute,  but  thinks  he  has  a  perfect  right  to  break  the  law  against 
combinations  and  monopolies.  The  burglar  abhors  the  man  who  breaks 
the  law  against  trusts,  but  he  considers  the  law  against  house-breaking 
an  infringement  upon  his  rights.  The  dram-shop  keeper  believes  in  the 
rigid  enforcement  of  the  law  against  the  man  who  robs  his  cash  drawer, 
but  he  thinks  the  law  requiring  his  saloon  to  close  on  Sunday  is  a  blue 
law  and  one  that  ought  not  to  be  obeyed.  It  has  been  my  experience  that 
any  law  looks  blue  to  the  man  that  wants  to  break  it.  (Applause.) 
More  respect  for  law  is  what  is  needed.  The  corporation  magnate  should 
be  compelled  to  respect  the  law  that  regulates  the  conduct  of  the  cor- 
poration, as  he  asks  others  to  respect  the  law  that  protects  the  property 
of  the  corporation.  The  anarchy  of  capital-breeding  lawlessness  should 
no  more  be  tolerated  than  the  anarchy  of  labor-breeding  riot  and  disor- 
der. Gamblers  and  those  who  violate  the  liquor  laws  should  be  made  to 
understand  that  the  laws  prohibiting  gambling  or  regulating  the  sale  of 
liquor  are  just  as  sacred  as  the  laws  that  protect  them  in  their  lives  and 
in  their  property.  What  a  wonderful  change  has  come  over  the  American 
people  in  the  last  six  or  seven  years!  Look  at  your  dictionaries  tonight 
and  you  will  not  find  the  word  "graft"  in  the  sense  in  which  it  is  now 
used — and  yet  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  all  this  broad  land  now 
understands  what  the  term  means.  Six  or  seven  years  ago  bribery  was 
the  common  and  accepted  thing  all  over  the  land.  Men  gave  bribes  and 
thought  nothing  of  doing  it;  men  took  bribes  and  felt  no  hesitancy  in 
doing  so;  men  purchased  votes  and  bought  franchises;  legislative  halls 
were  often  dens  of  thieves;  the  touch  of  the  unclean  dollar  was  over  all, 
while  the  public  conscience  was  asleep.  Finally  the  people  awakened  to 
a  realization  of  the  fact  that  a  government  by  bribery  was  not  a  govern- 
ment of  and  for  the  people,  but  a  government  of  and  for  and  by  the 
few  with  wealth  enough  to  purchase  official  favors.  Then  from  one  end 
of  the  land  to  the  other  there  came  a  stern  demand  to  stamp 
out  the  offense  that  aims  at  the  very  heart  of  free  governjnent,  and  today 
no  man  takes  a  bribe  and  considers  himself  an  honest  man.  The  public 
conscience  was  extended  from  the  domain  of  the  public  wrongdoer  to 
conscience  has  taught  men  better  than  that  and  the  energies  of  this 
that  of  the  private  wrongdoer.  Some  of  the  insurance  officials  were  found 
to  have  been  using  trust  funds  for  their  own  profit.  They  said  they  did 
not  know  that  was  wrong.  But  they  have  been  taught  better  than  that 


12  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

now.  Some  of  the  men  high  up  in  the  commercial  world  were  found  to 
have  been  accepting  rebates  from  railroads  contrary  to  law.  They  said 
they  did  not  know  that  was  dishonest.  That  it  was  all  right  according  to 
the  lights  they  had  before  them,  but  those  lights  have  now  been  put  out 
and  other  lights  have  been  placed  in  their  stead.  It  used  to  be  a  saying 
years  ago  that  a  prospect  was  a  hole  in  the  ground  owned  by  a  liar.  I 
don't  know  how  true  that  used  to  be,  but  I  can  say  this,  and  you  mine- 
owners  and  operators  know  that  it  is  so,  that  there  is  a  higher  standard 
in  your  business  and  in  the  mining  industry  than  there  has  ever  been  be- 
fore. (Applause.)  Things  will  not  be  tolerated  for  a  moment  now  that 
six  or  seven  years  ago  were  submitted  to  in  silence.  The  public  con- 
science has  taught  you  that  evil  in  your  business  should  be  eliminated. 

So  this  public  conscience  has  gone  on  and  on,  day  by  day,  correcting 
some  evil  day  after  day,  remedying  some  wrong.  If  things  had  gone  on 
as  they  were  a  few  years  ago,  when  bribery  was  the  accepted  thing,  when 
lawlessness  was  looked  upon  with  indifference  then  the  end  of  the  Repub 
lie  itself  might  well  have  been  prophesied,  for  we  were  going  the  way  that 
other  nations  have  gone  who  went  to  their  death  during  the  flight  of  time 
through  the  ages.  This  is  not  the  first  nor  the  oldest  republic  by  any 
means.  If  we  were  to  live  three  centuries  longer  and  then  die,  we  would 
go  down  into  history  as  the  most  brilliant  but  shortest-lived  of  all  the 
republics  the  wrecks  of  which  are  strewn  along  the  shores  of  time. 

Rome  had  a  republican  form  of  government  for  seven  hundred  years; 
Florence  for  three  hundred  years;  Venice  for  eleven  hundred  years.  All 
of  these  republics  have  long  ago  tottered  off  the  stage  of  the  world  into 
oblivion.  What  caused  the  death  of  those  republics?  They  did  not  die 
for  lack  of  wealth.  Many  of  them  or  all  of  them  were  richer  v/hen  they 
fell  than  ever  before,  but  they  ceased  to  exist  for  lack  of  men.  They 
did  not  die  for  lack  of  money,  but  for  lack  of  morals.  They  did  not  die 
for  want  of  materiaj  wealth  but  lack  of  moral  health.  This  nation  today 
does  not  rest  upon  the  wealth  of  a  few  people,  but  it  rests  upon  the 
moral  character  and  the  integrity  of  the  average  individual.  Poets  have 
sung  of  the  Golden  Age  that  lies  buried  far  back  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  I  believe  that  the  Golden  Age  is  before  us,  not  behind  us,  and  it 
will  come  about  when  there  is  more  of  the  Golden  Rule  in  our  daily  lives 
and  less  of  the  rule  of  gold.  (Applause.)  It  will  come  about  when  the 
doctrine  of  brotherhood  becomes  the  standard  for  governmental  action, 
and  private  conduct.  I  believe  that  the  world  is  getting  better  and  better 
every  day,  not  worse.  Even  now  wealth  is  not  worshipped  with  the  same 
devotion  that  it  used  to  be,  and  gold  is  not  regarded  with  the  same  awe 
as  in  days  gone  by.  The  ideal  of  the  young  man  is  becoming  more  and 
more  to  get  right  and  to  stay  right,  rather  than  to  get  rich  and  stay  rich. 
A  new  standard  has  been  established — new,  yet  old — just  plain,  common, 
simple  honesty,  that's  all. 

Now,  this  may  be  ideal,  but  the  business  that  has  ideals  will  succeed 
best.  The  man  who  has  ideals  will  succeed  best.  The  city  or  the  state 
or  the  nation  that  has  ideals  will  make  the  greatest  progress.  Take  away 
the  ideal  of  America  and  the  strength  of  the  nation  would  soon  be  gone. 
Rome  built  great  highways  and  founded  mighty  cities  while  the  strength 
of  Roman  character  ebbed  away.  When  that  was  gone  there  was  nothing 
to  defend;  there  was  nothing  to  conquer..  There  is  an  old  story  of  an 
eastern  king  who  caused  a  great  palace  to  be  erected  as  a  monument  of 
his  majesty  and  power.  Stone  by  stone  the  structure  grew  and  the  heart 
of  the  king  swelled  with  pride.  One  morning  the  palace  was  in  ruins. 
"What  great  treason  has  been  committed  here?"  the  king  exclaimed,  and 
a  price  was  put  on  the  head  of  the  traitor  who  had  destroyed  the  abode 
of  majesty.  But  a  wise  man  of  the  court  admonished  the  king.  "Great 
master,  there  has  been  no  treason  here.  The  house  that  was  great  and 
mighty  has  fallen  down  because  the  builders  used  mortar  without  sand, 
hence  their  work  has  gone  to  ruins."  So  with  the  state,  so  with  busi- 
ness. External  grandeur  counts  for  nothing.  We  may  count  wealth  as 
the  sands  of  the  sea,  we  may  as  states  build  the  domes  of  our  capitols 
and  the  spires  of  our  churches  until  they  pierce  the  clouds  and  glitter 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  13 

among  the  stars;  all  must  crumble  and  fall  away  unless  it  be  welded  and 
strengthened  by  the  principles  of  morality  and  justice  that  constitute  the 
groundwork  of  enlightened  citizenship.  Here  between  two  great  oceans 
we  have  founded  an  empire  such  as  no  conqueror  of  old  ever  dreamed  of, 
but  the  greatness  of  a  nation  does  not  consist  in  the  size  of  its  army  nor 
the  strength  of  its  battleships,  but  in  the  purity  of  its  ideals  and  in  the 
intensity  of  its  devotion  to  those  principles  that  make  for  right,  that 
make  for  justice,  truth  and  honor.  True  to  these  ideals,  we  sha.ll  be  the 
most  powerful  amongst  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Forsaking  them,  the 
time  will  come  when  our  military  engines  will  be  as  toys  in  our  hands 
and  our  strongest  naval  armament  impotent  and  useless.  In  vain  will  we 
build  battleships,  fortify  our  coasts  and  man  our  guns  unless  we  bring 
into  every  rampart  and  turret  those  ideas  and  those  ideals  that  make  the 
man  behind  the  gun.  Our  forefathers  furnished  us  with  a  government 
guaranteeing  rights  to  the  citizens  never  obtained  or  exercised  by  any 
other  people.  They  fought  against  the  enemies  of  our  country  in  order 
that  we  might  have  this  nation.  We  must  fight  against  the  enemies  of 
peace  in  order  to  preserve  this  as  a  government  for  the  people  and  by 
the  people.  Let  us  preserve  inviolate  the  principles  of  popular  self-gov- 
ernment, recognizing  the  largest  liberty  of  the  individual  citizen  consistent 
with  law  and  order.  Let  us  unite  in  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  and  in 
counteracting  any  attempt  to  defy  them.  Let  us  not  array  class  against 
class,  but  let  us  preserve  the  rights  of  all  by  causing  each  to  respect  the 
rights  of  the  other.  Let  us  not  attack  business,  but  the  wrongdoing  on 
the  part  of  some  of  those  engaged  in  business.  Let  us  not  assail  wealth, 
but  the  abuses  of  wealth.  Let  us  attack  not  men  but  the  evil  that  men 
do.  Let  us  love  not  money  but  manhood.  Let  us  appeal  not  to  cunning 
but  to  conscience.  Let  us  make  the  national  life  clean  by  making  the 
national  conscience  clean.  This  is  the  Missouri  idea.  To  such  a  state, 
with  its  wealth  of  mines  and  of  field  and  of  forest  and  of  factory,  to 
such  a  state  with  men  and  women  holding  to  these  ideals,  I  bid  you  a 
cordial  and  sincere  welcome. 

Hon.  Jesse  F.  Osborne,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Joplin,  was  then  intro- 
duced and  delivered  the  following  address  of  welcome  on  behalf  of  the 
citizens  of  Joplin: 

MAYOR  OSBORNE:  Mr.  Chairman,  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

It  is  a  great  privilege  and  a  great  pleasure  to  have  you  hold  your 
Tenth  Annual  Congress  in  our  midst,  for  we  recognize  in  your  body, 
composed  as  it  is  of  all  that  goes  to  make  up  what  we  are  pleased  to 
term  the  mining  industry — an  ancient,  honorable  and  useful  vocation. 
Ancient,  because,  look  as  far  back  as  we  may  .in  the  pages  of  history, 
sacred  and  profane,  we  find  mentioned  the  various  metals,  which  pre- 
supposes the  prospector,  the  miner  and  the  smelter.  It  would  seem  that 
man's  very  advancement  from  the  Stone  Age  was  heralded  by  that  first 
blacksmith,  old  Tubal  Cain,  the  father  of  such  as  work  in  iron.  It  was 
the  search  for  gold  that  led  Cortez  to  the  land  of  the  Montezumas  and 
Coronado  in  search  of  the  golden  city  of  the  Indians  named  Quiviro.  Your 
vocation  is  an  honorable  one.  The  product  you  bring  to  the  wealth  of 
the  world  is  in  the  fullest  meaning  of  the  term  new  wealth  and  untainted 
wealth.  You  take  it  from  no  man  or  set  of  men.  It  is  not  contaminated 
by  any  questionable  commercial  methods  in  its  procurement.  It  is  not 
haunted  by  the  orphan's  cry  nor  the  widow's  tear.  It  is  in  fact  a  gift 
from  Almighty  God,  who  at  the  sunrise  of  time  hid  it  away  in  the  hills  and 
gulches  under  Arctic  snows  and  desert  sands,  from  East  to  West  and 
from  pole  to  pole  as  an  incentive  to  action  and  as  a  reward  to  him  who 
has  the  courage  and  the  will  to  go  and  seek  it  out.  It  is  an  undoubted 
fact  that  your  product  is  an  essential  and  a  condition  precedent  in  ad- 
vancement in  all  the  planes  of  human  endeavor.  It  has  enabled  us  to 
span  the  continents  with  bands  of  steel  over  which  is  carried  the  world's 
commerce.  It  has  enabled  us  to  spiderweb  the  continents,  seas  and 
oceans  with  wire  and  cable  for  almost  instantaneous  communication  be- 
tween the  Occident  and  Orient.  It  has  enabled  us  to  bridge  the  great 


14  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

rivers  of  all  countries,  to  make  the  machinery,  tools  and  appliances  used 
in  all  the  various  lines  of  manufacture,  to  build  the  framework  of  the 
mighty  skyscrapers  in  the  cities,  and  to  furnish  implements  for  the  tillage 
of  the  fields.  Some  have  said  that  the  agriculturalist  brings  to  humanity 
the  greatest  in  amount  of  blessings  that  go  to  make  up  the  sum-total  of 
human  needs,  but  it  can  be  readily  seen  that  the  agriculturalist  would 
make  but  an  insignificant  showing  if  first  the  metal  for  the  making  of 
his  implements  of  industry  were  not  mined  and  brought  into  use.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  base  metals,  you  furnish  the  gold  and  silver  on  which  are 
based  the  wealth  of  the  world.  You  furnish  the  circulating  medium  or 
the  basis  thereof  in  the  world's  commerce,  and  the  scarcity  or  abundance 
of  your  product  fixes  the  price  level  of  the  world's  goods,  influences  com- 
mercial and  political  policies,  makes  and  unmakes  statesmen.  And  then, 
when  nations  depart  from  the  fields  of  peace,  your  product  is  again  in 
requisition  for  the  torpedo  boat,  the  destroyer,  the  cruiser  and  the  mighty 
battleship  on  the  seas,  in  the  thundering  cannon,  the  screaming  shell,  the 
rattling  musketry  and  the  clanking  sabre  on  land.  In  the  search  for  the 
hidden  treasures  of  earth  no  journey  has  been  too  long  for  you  to  under- 
take and  successfully  accomplish,  no  danger  so  great  that  you  have  not 
dauntlessly  met  and  overcome  it,  no  clime  so  unfriendly  that  you  have 
not  successfully  withstood  it.  You  have  been  the  pioneers  for  the  colo- 
nization of  the  world.  You  have  been  the  very  advance  guard  of  civiliza- 
tion. What  country  can  you  call  to  mind  where  the  prospector,  the 
miner,  did  not  precede  the  railroad?  The  fact  is  the  prospector  and  the 
miner  go  ahead,  lay  out  the  trail,  spy  out  the  country,  report  back  and 
the  railroad  follows  on.  Thus  in  all  times  and  in  all  conditions  in  the 
affairs  of  men  from  the  earliest  dawn  of  civilization  down  to  the  present 
time  you  have  more  than  borne  your  burden.  You  have  more  than  done 
your  part  to  achieve  our  present  civilization.  You  have  more  than  done 
your  work  in  the  evolution  of  humanity.  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire,  and  as  all  labor  must  receive  its  just  reward  here  or  hereafter,  your 
reward  is  sure,  and  if  you  have  not  found  it  yet,  and  if  you  fail  to  find  it 
here,  let  us  hope  that  you  may  find  it  in  that  last  great  camp  just  over  the 
Divide,  that  Eldorado  of  the  Soul  where  the  days  never  grow  old  and  the 
streets  are  paved  with  pure  gold.  In  your  search  for  the  big  bonanzas 
you  have  gone  from  camp  to  camp  and  from  country  to  country,  from 
California  to  Nevada,  from  Pike's  Peak  to  the  Black  Hills,  from  Cripple 
Creek  to  the  Coeur  d'Alenes,  from  the  Klondike  and  Nome  to  Tonopah 
and  Goldfield,  with  your  ears  ever  attuned  to  the  far  call  of  the  new  camp. 
It  is  therefore  possible  that  you  have  given  the  lead  and  zinc  mines  of 
this  district  but  passing  thought.  There  are  those  among  you  I  know 
who  are  familiar  with  these  mines.  To  you  I  need  say  nothing;  but  to 
you  who  have  yet  to  become  acquainted  with  us  it  is  opportune  to  say  that 
in  all  these  years  the  fields  of  this  district  have  paid  their  devotees 
$15,000,000  to  $20,000,000  per  year  without  any  loss  of  sleep,  any  undue 
excitement,  any  perceptible  rise  of  temperature.  We  have  gone  right  on 
from  year  to  year  raising  miners  to  affluence  and  educating  more  miners 
to  take  the  places  of  those  who  have  received  of  the  beneficence  of  our 
district,  composed  as  it  is  of  parts  of  the  states  of  Missouri,  Kansas,  Ar- 
kansas and  Oklahoma.  We  have  no  lines  or  class  distinctions  in  our  dis- 
trict worth  mentioning.  The  operator  and  the  shoveler  ride  or  walk  to- 
gether to  the  mines  with  perfect  confidence,  friendship  and  equality.  We 
have  no  strikes  in  our  district  for  the  reason  that  if  at  any  time  the 
miner  does  not  get  what  he  thinks  is  right,  he  simply  quits  and  goes  out 
and  strikes  a  mine  of  his  own,  and  then  becomes  an  operator  him- 
self, when  he  can  see  the  question  from  both  sides.  The  operator  some- 
times works  his  mine  out  and  then  to  keep  his  hand  in  the  game,  goes 
into  the  ground  as  a  spade  hand  where  he  gets  a  look  at  both  sides  of 
the  question  also.  These  experiences  have  a  tendency  to  change  the  view- 
point, and  as  a  result  capital  and  labor  in  our  district  are  all  experienced. 
They  have  both  been  there,  both  ways,  and  as  a  consequence  are  the  best 
of  friends. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  15 

We  of  this  district  have  a  pardonable  pride  in  this  happy  condition. 
In  behalf  of  the  district,  in  behalf  of  our  enterprising  sister  Arkansas 
to  the  south,  our  lively  sister  Kansas  to  the  West,  and  I  would  say  our 
little  baby  sister  Oklahoma  to  the  Southwest  if  it  were  not  for  the  fact 
that,  like  the  veritable  Minerva  she  has  sprung  full-panoplied  from  the 
head  of  Jove  and  is  in  fact  a  state  with  the  rest  of  us  or  will  be  on  the 
sixteenth  of  this  month  when  her  birth  certificate  is  signed  by  Dr. 
Roosevelt,  it  gives  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  on  behalf  of  this  district, 
composed  of  the  best  American  citizenship  of  the  United  States,  to  wel- 
come you  to  our  midst,  and  on  behalf  of  the  city  of  Joplin  I  bid  you  a 
cordial  welcome  and  invite  you  to  take  everything  in  sight  that  you  want. 
(Applause.)  There  is  nothing  reserved.  The  town  is  yours.  I  know  that 
you  will  not  abuse  it,  because  miners  and  those  engaged  in  that  industry 
are  the  best  people  on  earth.  We  are  proud  to  have  you  with  us.  We  are 
glad  to  have  you  with  us.  If  you  don't  see  what  you  want,  ask  for  it,  and 
we  will  try  to  get  it  for  you.  (Applause.) 

Response  by  Hon.  J.  H.  Richards,  President  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress: 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  My  friends,  as  I  look  into  your  kindly 
faces,  I  recognize  that  we  have  received  a  miners'  greeting.  When  I 
see  the  beautiful  decorations  of  this  hall  and  such  a  multitude  come  to 
see  us,  I  recognize  also  that  you  have  touched  the  tender  chord  in  the 
heart  of  every  guest  within  the  gates  of  your  city.  They  cannot  help  but 
go  forth  to  the  world  and  have  a  kindly  feeling  for  the  kindly  greeting 
that  you  have  given  us.  And  don't  you  know  that  kindness  is  the  crying 
need  of  every  heart  today  in  this  broad  land?  We  must  learn  that  we 
are  to  some  extent  our  brother's  keeper.  When  we  learn  that  we  will 
have  less  dishonesty,  less  sorrow  and  less  suffering.  The  American  Min- 
ing Congress  is  an  aggregation  of  men  who  believe  that  the  best  condi- 
tions of  mining  have  not  been  brought  out  in  this  great  country.  Don't 
you  know  that  in  your  great  government  at  Washington  there  is  not  a 
bureau  or  a  department  that  recognizes  mining  as  an  industry  in  this 
great  country?  Not  one!  We  intend  to  continue  these  gatherings  an- 
nually, and  they  will  finally  speak  so  loud  that  they  will  be  heard  clear 
to  the  city  of  Washington,  the  capital  of  this  country.  (Applause.) 

We  believe  that  all  of  these  mighty  resources  of  this  land  are  simply 
means  to  an  end  and  that  is  to  bring  out  the  greatest  and  noblest  man- 
hood that  is  possible  in  this  great  land.  When  they  gave  this  land  to  us 
they  vrere  so  generous  that  out  of  it  must  come  big,  generous  manhood, 
and  this  is  being  given  generously  right  in  your  very  midst.  Missouri 
has  given  much  to  this  country.  I  anticipate  it  will  not  be  many  years 
until  it  will  give  us  a  President  also.  (Applause.) 

I  don't  suppose  the  state  from  which  I  come  is  very  well  known  to 
you.  I  have  heard  it  reported  that  a  boy  from  Missouri  was  attending  a 
public  school  and  studying  physical  geography.  The  teacher  asked  him 
at  the  next  lesson  to  tell  the  class  what  was  produced  by  Idaho.  He  said: 
"They  produce  cactus,  sage  brush,  jack  rabbits,  hair  and  whiskers." 
But  we  are  in  the  business  of  developing  men  out  there  also.  We  have 
many  from  Missouri.  We  have  great  mountains  there  that  are  an  in- 
spiration to  any  man  who  beholds  them — their  giant  breasts  bathed  in 
constant  snow  and  ice,  and  yet  at  their  feet  rests  a  beautiful  homeland. 
Our  markets  now  are  full  in  abundance  with  the  second  crop  of  straw- 
berries from  the  same  vines.  We  are  producing  sixty-one  per  cent,  of  all  the 
lead  produced  in  the  United  States  this  year.  We  expect  to  be  heard 
from  because  we  expect  to  follow  largely  in  the  wake  of  Missouri.  She 
has  led  the  van  largely  in  this  country,  and  we  are  looking  for  her  to 
do  greater  things.  There  is  one  thing  that  impresses  me  most  as  I  lis- 
tened to  your  Governor's  address  and  that  of  your  Mayor,  and  that  is  the 
harmony  that  exists  between  labor  and  the  mine  operator.  Why  should 
they  not?  If  both  are  honest,  then  there  can  be  no  disagreement  between 
them  that  could  not  be  settled  amicably.  We  believe  that  this  great  or- 
ganization that  has  now  come  into  your  midst  can  bring  out  of  these  con- 
ditions that  character  of  manhood  that  would  be  worthy  of  such  mighty 


16  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

opportunity.  Now  in  our  sessions  from  day  to  day  here,  as  your  chairman 
has  said,  all  are  welcome,  and  coming  from  the  state  that  I  do,  I  am 
reminded  that  the  ladies  are  welcome,  because  up  there  in  those  great 
mountains  the  husband  and  the  wife,  the  brother  and  the  sister  face  the 
world  together,  shoulder  to  shoulder  on  a  perfect  equality  before  the  law. 
(Applause.)  And  I  anticipate,  beautiful  as  your  city  is,  and  others  that 
I  have  seen,  that  we  can  teach  you  something  about  municipal  government 
in  the  way  of  cleanliness,  because  the  women  have  a  right  to  vote  there, 
and  their  voice  is  heard  in  that  larger  phase  of  housekeeping  called  mu- 
icipal  government.  (Applause.)  I  hope  that  when  we  have  left  your 
midst  that  you  may  feel  that  you  have  entertained  angels  unawares.  When 
I  heard  the  beautiful  harmonies  coming  from  these  miners  I  felt  sure 
that  they  would  catch  the  inspiration  so  beautifully  spoken  of  by  your 
Governor,  and  I  am  sure  we  will  all  get  into  harmony  by  listening  to 
another  song  from  the  Apollo  Club. 

Congressman  J.  C.  Floyd,  of  Yellville,  Arkansas,  then  responded  on 
behalf  of  the  state  of  Arkansas. 

HON.  J.  C.  FLOYD:  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  and  Members  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress:  I  count  it  both  an  honor  and  a  pleasure  to 
respond  in  behalf  of  the  state  of  Arkansas  to  the  welcome  addresses  de- 
livered by 'Governor  Folk  and  the  Mayor  of  Joplin.  We  have  been  enter- 
tained since  our  arrival  here  with  all  the  hospitality  that  it  would  be 
possible  to  confer  by  any  people.  While  that  is  true,  I  confess  that  the 
situation  to  me  is  rather  embarrassing  tonight.  The  Mayor  tells  us  to  take 
everything  in  sight  that  we  see  and  want,  and  the  Governor  tells  us  not  to 
take  it  unless  it  belongs  to  us.  (Applause.)  My  position  is  embarrassing 
in  another  respect.  Governor  Folk  has  so  eloquently  and  so  thoroughly 
portrayed  the  greatness  of  Missouri.  What  can  I  say  about  Arkansas? 
(Applause.)  I  have  been  introduced  to  this  audience  as  the  guest  of 
Missouri.  Can  I  take  issue  with  the  Governor?  Certainly  not.  But  I 
want  to  tell  you  a  few  things  that  the  Governor  didn't  tell  you.  He  says 
that  Missouri  has  the  greatest  apple  orchards  in  the  world.  That  is  true. 
But  the  finest  and  best  and  the  biggest  apples  in  the  world  are  grown 
down  in  Arkansas.  (Applause.)  At  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition 
at  St.  Louis  we  shipped  from  Arkansas  an  apple  that  weighed  34  ounces, 
and  it  took  the  premium  in  Missouri  as  being  the  largest  apple  grown. 
(Applause.)  It  is  true  that  Missouri  had  in  a  glass  case  a  plaster-of-paris 
cast  of  an  apple  that  weighed  32  ounces.  We  can  raise  bigger  apples  in 
Arkansas  than  Missouri  can  make  out  of  plaster-of-paris.  (Applause.) 

Your  Governor  tells  you  that  Missouri  is  the  greatest  zinc  producing 
country  in  the  world.  That  is  true.  But  for  the  last  ten  years  at  all  the 
expositions  where  zinc  ores  were  put  upon  exhibition,  Arkansas  took  the 
premium,  on  zinc  ores.  Why,  we  shipped  one  specimen,  a  chunk  of  zinc 
ore,  to  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  that  weighed  12,750  pounds  free  ore, 
and  it  took  the  premium  as  being  the  largest  specimen  of  free  ore  ever 
found.  The  truth  is  that  the  best  part  of  this  Missouri  district  lies  in 
Arkansas.  (Applause.) 

I  am  glad  to  be  here.  We  feel  an  interest  in  this  Mining  Congress 
because  we  want  the  mining  people  of  the  United  States  to  understand 
that  the  Missouri  zinc  district  extends  not  only  into  Arkansas,  but  into 
Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory,  or  the  new  Oklahoma  (applause),  and 
I  want  to  say  to  the  people  here  tonight  that  a  more  profitable  field  for 
investment  in  the  United  States  does  not  exist  anywhere  than  it  does 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  this  great  mining  district,  covering  a 
portion  of  the  states  named,  and  I  think  that  all  of  the  people  of  this 
section  and  of  this  district  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  fact  that  the 
American  Mining  Congress  saw  proper  to  fix  its  meeting  place  in  Joplin — 
the  very  heart  and  center  of  this  mineral  district  and  mineral  territory. 
We  need  to  bring  to  the  knowledge  of  the  outside  world  the  undeveloped 
resources  of  this  field,  and  as  a  representative  from  Arkansas  I  speak  for 
the  undeveloped  section  of  this  mineral  district.  Until  about  three  years 
ago  the  Arkansas  mineral  district  had  no  transportation  facilities.  Then 
the  St.  Louis  &  North  Arkansas  Railroad  was  extended  through  the 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  17 

counties  of  Carroll,  Boone,  Newton  and  Searcy,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  district,  from  Seligman,  Missouri,  and,  in  the  near  future,  that  road 
will  be  extended  to  Joplin.  About  two  years  ago  the  White  River  Railroad, 
a  branch,  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  was  built  from  Newport,  Arkansas,  to 
Aurora,  and  thence  to  Carthage  and  Joplin,  Missouri.  Since  that  road  was 
constructed,  the  people  of  the  territory  lying  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
district  have  direct  communication  with  the  Joplin  fields  by  railway,  so 
the  great  obstacle  that  heretofore  existed,  want  of  transportation,  no 
longer  is  a  barrier  to  the  development  of  those  fields,  and  we  invite 
capitalists  to  come  to  our  state  and  to  help  us  develop  its  wonderful 
resources. 

You  will  find  the  people  of  Arkansas  as  hospitable,  as  loyal  to  those 
who  engage  in  honest  industries,  as  any  state  in  this  Union.  Perhaps  no 
state  has  ever  been  the  victim  of  so  many  misconceptions  as  the  state  of 
Arkansas,  but  those  impressions  are  passing,  and  the  people  of  the  United 
States  are  beginning  to  realize  that  there  are  wonderful  opportunities 
within  the  borders  of  our  state,  that  it  is  one  of  the  grand  states  of  the 
Union.  The  state  works  hand  in  hand  with  Missouri.  In  fact,  there  is 
not  much  difference  between  the  people  of  Arkansas  and  the  people  of 
Missouri,  anyway..  (Applause.) 

Now,  I  want  to  say  that. this  organization  has  a  purpose  and  an  object. 
This  Mining  Congress  is  organized  and  maintained  for  a  purpose,  and  as 
I  understand  the  purpose  of  this  organization  it  is  to  build  up  the  mining 
interests  of  the  United  States.  One  of  the  objects  which  they  propose, 
which  they  ask,  and  which  they  demand,  is  a  mining  department  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  one  of  the  leading  departments  of  this  government— 
a  cabinet  department  of  this  government — and  it  ought  to  have  it.  Why 
should  it  not  be?  We  have  a  department  of  agriculture.  We  have  a 
department  of  the  army  and  a  department  of  the  navy.  Just  think  of  the 
thousands  and  thousands  of  dollars  that  are  expended  every  year  to  main- 
tain the  army  and  the  navy,  and  yet  the  government  has  no  mining  depart- 
ment, and  yet  if  it  were  not  for  the  miners  of  this  country,  if  it  were  not 
for  the  men  who  go  into  the  earth  and  take  out  the  ores  and  manufacture 
them,  with  all  the  money  appropriated  for  the  army  and  the  navy,  you 
could  not  make  a  cannon  or  a  gun,  you  could  not  build  a  battleship,  be- 
cause you  would  not  have  any  material  to  do  it  with.  The  mining  industry 
of  this  country  deserves  this  recognition,  and  as  an  humble  representative 
in  Congress,  I  pledge  to  you  my  support  of  any  proposition  to  make  a 
cabinet  department  of  the  mining  industry  of  this  country.  (Applause.) 
Furthermore,  I  want  to  make  a  few  suggestions  in  line  with  what  has 
been  said  by  your  distinguished  Governor.  This  is  a  time  when  in  all 
legislative  matters  there  should  be  one  salient  principle,  one  salient  policy 
and  that  is  honesty.  Laws  should  be  passed  by  the  respective  states  to 
prevent  mining  frauds,  fake  stock  schemes  (applause),  to  prevent  people 
being  defrauded  out  of  their  money  by  dishonest  means  under  form  of 
law.  That  has  hurt  the  mining  industry.  There  is  no  industry  in  this 
country  where  a  man  can  honestly  acquire  fortune — fabulous  wealth — so 
easily  as  by  digging  in  the  earth  and  mining  ores.  He  takes  not  a  dollar 
from  living  man,  he  robs  no  one  by  his  discoveries  and  labor,  and  he  has 
added  to  the  total  of  the  world's  wealth,  harming  no  one.  Stamp  out 
these  grafters — you  know  what  that  means.  Governor  Folk  has  told  you 
that  all  the  world  has  learned  what  that  word  graft  means  in  the  last 
five  or  six  years.  Now  your  Governor  was  modest  about  it,  but  I  want 
to  say  that  all  the  world  has  known  it  since  District  Attorney  Folk,  of 
Missouri,  now  your  distinguished  Governor,  taught  them  what  it  meant. 
(Applause.)  Your  distinguished  chairman  said  that  he  expected  one  day 
that  Missouri  would  produce  a  President.  He  meant  Folk.  (Cheers.)  That 
undoubtedly  may  be  realized.  I  listened  to  a  speech  in  Congress  from  a 
distinguished  member  on  the  question  of  railroads  and  he  spoke  from 
the  standpoint  of  one  who  had  interests  in  corporate  wealth,  and  he 
argued  that  the  best  policy  for  the  railroads  was  to  be  honest  with  the 
people.  Said  he:  "If  you  would  squeeze  the  watered  stock  out  of  railroad 
corporations;  if  you  would  open  your  books  and  let  the  public  into  your 


JS  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

confidence;  if  you  would  lay  before  the  public  your  transactions,  the 
amount  of  money  in  your  investments,  and  the  public  would  see  it  and 
read  it;  a  railroad  bond  would  be  equal  to  a  government  bond."  Don't 
you  believe  he  was  right?  The  same  way  in  your  mining  propositions. 
If  you  will  put  upon  the  statute  books  laws  that  will  punish  those  who 
would  deal  dishonestly,  those  who  would  swindle  the  public,  then  you 
increase  faith  in.  the  legitimate  industry,  and  in  legitimate  development 
of  the  mining  interests  of  this  country.  I  understand  from  talking  with 
members  of  your  association,  that  that  is  another  one  of  the  leading  objects 
of  this  organization.  I  wish  you  godspeed  in  its  accomplishment. 

We  should  all  stand, for  good  citizenship,  for  the  upbuilding  of  our 
material  wealth,  and  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  citizenship  of  our  country. 
The  public  temper  is  ripe  for  reforms  along  that  line,  and  I  think  that 
the  public  temper  is  right,  and  that  every  man  in  the  United  States,  re- 
gardless of  party,  should  stand  for  these  reforms,  and  keep  the  movement 
rolling  on  until  every  corrupt  man  is  swept  from  high  public  place,  and 
until  every  law  behind  corruption  is  swept  from  the  statute  books,  and 
wholesome  laws  are  put  upon  the  statutes  for  the  protection  of  the  people's 
rights.  (Applause.)  If  we  are  to  have  a  great  state  we  must  have  honest 
laws  and  honest  administration  of  the  laws  in  that  state.  If  we  are  to 
have  a  great  government,  a  great  nation,  we  must  have  honest  laws,  and 
we  must  have  an  honest  administration  of  the  laws  of  this  nation.  This 
much  I  say  in  approval  of  what  has  been  said  by  your  distinguished  Gov- 
ernor. Thanking  you  for  your  very  patient  attention,  I  will  close  my 
remarks. 

Col.  T.  J.  Vest  then  responded  to  the  addresses  of  welcome  on  behalf 
of  the  state  of  Kansas. 

COL.  T.  J.  VEST,  OF  GALENA,  KANSAS:  Mr.  Chairman,  Members 
of  the  American  Mining  Congress,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Within  the 
last  four  decades  of  time  a  general  uneasiness  and  anxiety  grew  up  among 
the  young  men  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  American  continent.  Eventually 
they  emigrated  to  the  West;  they  crossed  the  broad  fertile  plains  of  Ohio, 
Illinois,  Iowa  and  Missouri,  but  resisted  all  of  the  temptations  that  these 
states  at  that  time  were  offering  to  the  home  seeker;  they  stopped  in 
Kansas;  they  first  erected  shelter  to  protect  their  dependent  ones  and 
themselves  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  immediately  there- 
after they  erected  what  is  known  as  the  "Kansas  School  House,"  so  that 
one  traveling  over  the  broad  state  would  no  sooner  get  out  of  the  sight 
of  one  school  house,  but  he  would  come  in  sight  of  another.  The  good 
work  so  ably  started  has  developed  until  we  have  today  at  Manhattan, 
Kansas,  the  largest  agricultural  college  in  the  world,  with  its  two  thousand 
students,  and  at  Emporia,  Kansas,  stands  the  largest  normal  school  in 
the  world,  with  its  two  thousand  two  hundred  students,  and  at  Lawrence 
stands  the  Kansas  University,  which  takes  second  place  to  no  institution 
of  education  in  America.  As  a  result  of  the  efforts  of  these  pioneers, 
Kansas  adds  to  the  world's  wealth  from  an  agricultural  and  horticultural 
standpoint  three  hundred  million  dollars  per  annum;  they  have  in  Kansas 
today,  as  shown  by  the  state  bank  reports,  a  circulating  per  capita  of 
ninety  dollars  for  every  man,  woman  and  child — as  compared  to  our  thirty- 
two  dollars  per  capita  circulation  of  the  United  States,  Kansas  is  the 
wheat  field  of  America,  and  ranks  about  fourth  as  a  corn  producer.  If 
there  was  a  wall  built  around  the  state  of  Kansas  to  keep  confined  within 
that  territory  its  agricultural  products  its  population  would  be  submerged 
under  its  own  production. 

As  miners,  we  are  something  of  a  figure;  as  coal  producers,  for  the 
year  1907,  we  will  add  to  the  world's  wealth  seven  millions  of  dollars. 
The  output  of  our  cement  works,  seven  in  number,  will  exceed  six  millions 
of  dollars,  and  of  our  other  clay  products — brick,  tile  and  building  stone 
(by  the  way,  many  of  the  streets  are  paved  and  buildings  erected  in  our 
sister  state  of  Missouri  on  the  east  out  of  Kansas  brick)^amounts  to  a 
total  of  six  million  dollars  per  annum;  the  oil  wells  of  Kansas  add  to  the 
world's  wealth  one  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  per  annum;  our 
gas  product  is  of  the  value  of  three  millions  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  19 

per  annum;  and,  by  the  way,  the  gas  of  Kansas  is  warming  the  cities  of 
this  part  of  Missouri  as  well  as  the  cities  on  the  north. 

We  also  have  zinc  mines  in  Kansas  that  add  to  the  world's  wealth 
two  millions  of  dollars  per  annum;  and  in  the  thirty  years  of  her  existence 
she  has  added  the  sum  total  of  fifty  three  millions  of  dollars  to  the  world's 
wealth. 

We  people  began  mining  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  in  a  small  area 
of  country,  but  as  yet  we  have  not  reached  the  80-foot  level.  It  has  been 
our  boast  for  years  that  it  is  the  poor  man's  camp,  and  we  venture  the 
assertion  here  and  defy  contradiction,  that  any  poor  man  that  has  lived  in 
Galena,  who  has  been  sober  and  industrious  has  been  rewarded  for  his 
efforts;  that  he  is  in  easy  circumstances,  or  has  grown  rich.  But  it  is  no 
longer  a  poor  man's  camp,  but  now  a  rich  man's  field;  we  have  prospected 
the  earth  from  80  feet  to  500  feet  in  depth;  we  have  been  rewarded  for 
our  efforts  by  the  discovery  of  rich  veins  of  ore  at  all  the  levels,  but  the 
poor  man  is  no  longer  able  to  provide  himself  with  the  equipment  neces- 
sary to  proceed  further,  on  account  of  the  large  bodies  of  water  en- 
countered below,  and  we  now  consider  it  the  rich  man's  field,  and  we  say 
to  the  rich  man:  "Your  hopes  will  be  realized." 

As  a  manufacturing  state,  we  are  something;  our  people  have  paid 
some  attention  to  the  smelting  of  zinc  ore;  refining  it  into  the  spelter  of 
commerce,  and  from  a  bulletin  issued  recently  by  the  Geological  Survey 
of  the  United  States,  we  find  that  Kansas  produced  in  the  year  1906  one 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  thousand  tons  of  spelter,  with  a  commercial 
value  of  fourteen  millions  of  dollars.  The  eight  smelting  companies  that 
are  located  in  Kansas  say  to  the  people  who  are  mining  in  the  southwest 
of  Missouri  and  southeastern  Kansas,  produce  ore  to  your  utmost  capacity, 
we  will  purchase  it  from  you;  and  say  to  Missouri,  produce  all  the  ore 
you  can,  we  can  take  care  of  it;  to  the  new  state  of  Oklahoma,  they  say, 
produce  all  the  ore  you  can,  we  will  take  care  of  it;  they  say  to  Arkansas, 
produce  all  the  ore  you  can,  we  will  take  care  of  it,  and  when  all  of  them 
have  put  forth  their  best  efforts  of  increasing  their  tonnage,  the  smelters 
of  Kansas  are  still  calling  for  more.  The  result  is,  that  they  have  gone  to 
the  states  of  the  West,  to  New  Mexico,  Colorado  and  Utah,  and  still  not 
being  supplied  with  a  sufficient  tonnage,  they  have  gone  to  British  Co- 
lumbia and  Old  Mexico,  and  are  still  asking  for  more. 

We  are  also  lead  smelters,  and  buy  a  supply  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Joplin  district,  and  add  to'  the  world's  wealth  the  refined  article  to  the 
value  of  half  a  million  dollars  per  annum. 

Mr.  Chairman,  on  behalf  of  this  great  state  of  Kansas,  and  on  behalf 
of  Galena,  we  bid  you  welcome  to  this  general  mining  district,  and  we 
further  promise  to  lend  our  aid  to-  you  in  establishing  at  Washington  a 
department  of  mines  and  mining,  for  the  betterment  of  the  mining  inter- 
ests of  America. 

Hon.  John  Bern  then  responded  to  the  address  of  welcome  on  behalf 
of  the  state  of  Utah. 

HON.  JOHN  BERN,  OF  UTAH:  It  seems  that  this  meeting  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress  is  being  held  far  enough  south  to  come  within 
the  scope  of  that  hospitality  for  which  the  South  has  ever  been  famous. 

In  behalf  of  the  Utah  delegation  I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  we  are 
delighted  with  our  reception,  and  we  are  grateful  for  the  charming  manner 
in  which  we  are  being  entertained.  This  hospitality  we  find  no  less  hearty 
and  whole-souled  than  that  of  the  western  prospector,  who  welcomes  you 
to  his  lonely  camp,  and  stranger  though  you  be,  kills  the  fatted  calf  in 
honor  of  your  visit.  It  may  be  true  that  the  fatted  calf  comes  out  of  a 
tin  can,  and  that  it  is  more  often  known  as  embalmed  beef,  but  the  wel- 
come is  no  less  sincere  for  all  that,  and  if  you  happen  to  come  to  his  camp 
while  the  owner  is  not  about,  you  are  expected  to  help  yourself  to  the 
grub,  and  the  only  thing  expected  of  you  is  that  you  wash  the  dishes 
before  you  depart.  That  is  our  western  idea  of  hospitality,  and,  as  I  said 
before,  we  have  found  the  southern  brand  to  compare  favorably  with  it. 

It  has  been  an  especial  pleasure  to  be  welcomed  by  the  distinguished 
Governor  of  the  great  state  of  Missouri.  When  a  man  reaches  eminence 


20  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

not  as  the  result  of  political  accident,  but  as  a  recognition  of  valuable 
public  services,  the  American  people  are  proud  to  do  him  honor. 

The  great  work  done  by  Joseph  W.  Folk  in  purifying  politics,  in 
promoting  honesty,  and  in  advancing  lofty  ideals,  has  influenced  not 
Misouri  alone,  but  every  state  in  the  Union,  and  he  has  endeared  himself 
to  every  patriotic  American  heart. 

Let  the  inspiring  example  set  by  Governor  Folk  in  civic  matters  serve 
as  a  motto  for  the  deliberations  and  actions  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress,  and  there  can  remain  no  doubt  of  the  purity  of  its  purpose,  or 
the  value  of  its  work. 

The  welcome  extended  to  us  by  your  Mayor  in  behalf  of  all  the  citi- 
zens of  Joplin,  I  assure  you  is  fully  appreciated,  and  we  will  carry  home 
with  us  most  pleasant  remembrances  of  the  hospitality  extended  to  us  by 
the  citizens  of  the  city  in  the  great  lead  and  zinc  district  of  Missouri. 

There  should  be  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  any  of  us  that  we  are  here 
for  a  definite  tangible  purpose,  and  that  we  have  certain  laudable  aims  in 
view,  for  otherwise  there  would  be  no  excuse  for  the  existence  of  our 
organization.  In  making  this  statement,  I  have  given  myself  an  oppor- 
tunity to  enumerate  the  objects  of  the  American  Mining  Congress.  Of  that 
opportunity,  however,  I  do  not  intend  to  avail  myself  in  this  brief  address. 
I  merely  desire  to  touch  upon  a  few  matters  which  I  conceive  to  be  of 
great  importance.  Some  of  them  have  been  discussed  in  previous  meet- 
ings of  the  Congress,  while  others'  have  received  little  or  no  attention. 

All  of  us  will  admit  that  we  are  passing  through  a  great  epoch  in  our 
public  affairs.  The  tremendous  movement  against  corruption,  and  for 
more  exact  equality  before  the  law,  which  in  its  political  application  was 
begun  by  Folk  in  Missouri,  and  which  has  spread  until  it  has  permeated 
the  affairs  of  the  nation,  and  the  affairs  of  the  states,  entering  the  domains 
of  business  as  well  as  the  field  of  politics,  should  be  considered  by  this 
organization  of  the  mining  industry,  to  the  end  that  we  may  keep  pace 
with  the  advancing  business  standards.  If  the  rules  of  the  game  need 
revising,  let  them  be  revised;  if  there  be  housecleaning  needed,  let  it  be 
done.  In  short,  let  us  advocate  and  press  any  measures  that  will  elevate 
the  business  of  mining. 

Some  of  us  are  fond  of  saying  that  when  properly  conducted  mining 
is  just  as  safe  as  any  other  business.  With  this  view  I  cannot  fully  agree, 
because  there  is  undeniably  a  greater  element  of  chance  in  seeking  mother 
earth's  hidden  treasures  than  there  is  about  a  mercantile  or  manufacturing 
business,  where  success  almost  invariably  rewards  ability,  industry,  enter- 
prise and  foresight;  if  these  qualities  be  properly  displayed. 

In  mining  no  amount  of  energy  can  make  a  mine  if  <the  mineral  is 
not  in  the  ground.  The  risky  nature  of  mining  is  at  once  obvious  when 
we  know -the  large  proportion  of  meritorious  prospects  which  result  in 
disappointment,  even  though  they  be  honestly  and  economically  managed. 
It  will  be  better  for  us  all  if  the  hazardousness  of  mining  be  freely  and 
candidly  admitted.  At  the  same  time,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  risk  in 
mining  ventures  may  be  very  greatly  reduced,  and  this  Congress  can  do 
no  greater  service  to  the  mining  industry  than  to  lend  its  aid  to  making 
mining  more  safe,  conservative  and  legitimate. 

I  am  not  prepared  to  submit  a  comprehensive  plan  for  bringing  about 
this  desirable  condition,  but  I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  the  more 
frequent  employment  of  engineering  advice,  and  the  extermination  of  the 
festive  wildcat  would  help  wonderfully. 

In  many  sections  of  the  country  mining  is  regarded  as  a  gamble  pure 
and  simple.  The  banker  or  merchant  who  invests  money  in  a  mine  often 
must  do  so  secretly  or  his  reputation  as  a  safe  and  sane  business  man  will 
be  ruined.  Why  is  this?  Because  experience  has  shown  that  most  such 
ventures  have  resulted  in  loss.  Why  so?  Generally  because  the  invest- 
ment was  ill-advised.  Too  many  people  depend  upon  their  own  inexperi- 
enced judgment  in  making  mining  investments,  or  else  they  act  upon  in- 
competent advice.  Some  times  the  fool  and  his  money  are  parted  by  the 
convincing  figures  and  bright  promises  of  a  prospectus.  Some  times  the 
unscrupulous  promoter  does  the  trick  By  the  way,  there  are  promoters 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS.  21 

and  promoters;  some  of  them  achieve  big  things.  For  the  others,  let  me 
say  that  they  are  more  often  ignorant  than  wilfully  dishonest.  Hence,  to 
invest  upon  such  advice  is  another  case  of  the  blind  leading  the  blind. 
If  we  could  educate  the  public  to  patronize  the  mining  engineering  profes- 
sion more  freely,  there  would  be  fewer  aching  hearts,  and  less  cursing 
of  the  mining  business.  I  am  aware  that  there  are  also  engineers  and 
engineers,  and  the  profession  has  suffered  because  of  dishonesty  and  in- 
competence in  some  of  its  members.  But  we  do  not  condemn  the  medical 
and  legal  professions  just  because  there  are  a  few  quacks  and  shysters, 
and  we  should  be  equally  fair  to  engineers.  There  are  lots  of  honest, 
bright  and  high-minded  men  in  the  noble  profession  of  mining  engineering, 
and  by  due  inquiry  one  can  easily  find  out  who  they  are.  A  reasonable  fee 
paid  to  such  a  man  will  very  often  save  many  times  its  amount  for  a 
prospective  investor. 

Speaking  for  my  own  state  of  Utah,  I  do  not  wish  to  claim  that  we 
have  been  entirely  free  from  mining  abuses.  Mining  in  our  state  has 
had  a  wonderful  development  in  the  past  few  years,  and  no  doubt  the 
.optimistic  dreamer  has  in  some  instances  impressed  this  fact  upon  the 
investor,  to  the  latter's  ultimate  regret;  and  yet  I  believe  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  honest,  legitimate  mining  has  been  the  rule  in  Utah,  and  that 
it  has  produced  wonderful  results.  Through  the  aid  of  science  capital  is 
making  Utah  one  of  the  most  important  copper  producing  states,  and  our 
mines  and  reduction  works  are  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  engineers 
and  metallurgists  the  world  over. 

I  need  not  refer  to  the  statistics  which  show  Utah's  rank  as  a  pro- 
ducer of  the  other  metals.  Our  gold  and  silver  mines  have  long  been 
famous,  and  our  lead  production  has  an  important  effect  upon  the  supply 
of  that  metal;  nor  is  Utah  restricted  to  metal  mining,  coal,  salt,  asphaltum, 
and  other  hydrocarbons,  gypsum,  fireclay  and  other  wealth-making  prod- 
ucts we  have  in-  abundance.  Utah  people  some  times  go  away  from  home 
to  mine,  but  generally  they  come  back  with  the  verdict  that  as  a  mining 
state  Utah  has  no  superiors. 

One  of  the  subjects  that  will  probably  be  discussed  in  this  meeting  is 
the  transportation  problem.  I  need  not  remind  you  that  this  question  is 
one  of  the  most  vital,  and  one  of  the  most  concrete  that  confronts  us. 
The  life  of  many  mines  is  absolutely  dependent  upon  transportation  facili- 
ties and  rates.  If  we  approach  this  subject  in  a  spirit  of  fairness,  desiring 
justice  for  ourselves  without  injury  to  others,  I  have  no  doubt  that  the 
discussion  here  may  lead  to  improved  conditions  wherever  abuses  exist. 

One  of  the  primary  objects  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  is  to 
secure  the  creation  of  a  department  of  mines  and  mining  in  the  National 
Government.  The  establishment  of  a  new  cabinet  portfolio  is  never  easily 
brought  about,  and  no  new  department  has  ever  been  introduced  before  a 
strong,  intelligent  demand  for  it  was  aroused.  It  is  for  the  members  of 
this  Congress  to  carry  out  a  campaign  of  education,  so  that  the  representa- 
tives of  the  people  may  know  that  there  is  a  genuine  need  fo'r  such  a 
department.  It  has  often  occurred  to  me  that  a  good  many  of  our  members 
and  prominent  mining  men  of  the  country  are  lukewarm  about  this  sub- 
ject. They  admit  that  a  department  of  mines  and  mining  would  be  a 
good  thing,  but  they  have  not  worked  up  sufficient  enthusiasm  to  make 
them  put  forth  earnest  unremitting  efforts  to  get  such  a  department  insti- 
tuted. I  venture  to  say  if  each  and  every  one  of  us  were  imbued  with  a 
religious  conviction  of  the  value,  the  justice  and  the  importance  of  this 
movement,  the  desired  object  could  be  obtained  in  a  comparatively  short 
time.  If,  as  I  have  said,  there  are  mining  men  who  do  not  display  a  deep 
interest  in  this  work,  I  am  sure  it  is  because  they  have  not  given  the 
matter  careful  attention.  My  experience  has  been  that  any  one  who 
studies  the  plan  deeply  is  sure  to  become  one  of  its  pronounced  advocates. 
I  hope,  therefore,  that  every  member  will  take  pains  to  inform  himself 
on  this  subject,  because  it  is  axiomatic  that  a  man  cannot  do  good  work 
for  the  advancement  of  a  cause  unless  he  understands  it,  and  unless  he 
wholly  and  sincerely  believes  in  the  righteousness  of  that  cause.  If  we  can 
make  of  ourselves  a  band  of  ardent  missionaries,  preaching  in  every  state 


22  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

that  is  here  represented,  the  need  of  a  department  of  mines  and  mining, 
our  Senators  and  Members  of  Congress  would  soon  take  heed  of  the 
demand  and  act  accordingly. 

In  this  brief  address  I  cannot  adequately  give  voice  to  the  reason  why 
the  department  of  mines  and  mining  would  be  desirable  and  beneficial. 
I  want,  however,  to  emphasize  one  or  two  fundamental  principles  which 
may  help  to  impress  miners  with  the  dignity  and  importance  of  their 
calling.  In  the  first  place,  the  original  source  of  all  wealth  is  the  soil,  or 
the  earth's  crust.  Everything  we  eat,  drink,  wear  or  use  is  supplied  us 
by  our  mother  earth.  The  earth's  products  may  be  broadly  divided  into 
two  branches — vegetable  and  mineral.  The  vegetable  kingdom,  including 
animal  life,  subsisting  thereupon,  is  represented  in  our  government  de- 
partment of  agriculture.  I  am  firmly  convinced  that  one  of  the  most  wise 
and  statesmanlike  steps  taken  by  our  government  in  the  past  quarter  cen- 
tury was  the  establishment  of  the  department  of  Agriculture.  It  takes 
years  to  get  such  a  department  into  condition  to  do  the  most  good,  but 
already  this  department  has  great  achievements  to  its  credit.  Without 
anything  paternalistic  in  its  plan,  it  has  before  it  a  scope  of  work  that 
cannot  fail  to  grow  into  helpfulness  to  the  entire  nation.  I  contend  that 
the  mineral  kingdom  is  entitled  to  similar  representation  in  our  govern- 
ment, and  that  a  department  of  mines  and  mining  would  primarily  benefit 
the  mining  industry,  and  thereby  as  an  inevitable  consequence  prove  a 
good  thing  for  the  nation.  As  a  hint  of  the  help  which  could  be  expected 
from  a  mines  department,  let  me  mention  the  splendid  work  that  has  been 
done  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  whose  special  surveys  of 
particular  mining  fields  have  served  as  intelligent  guides  for  the  pros- 
pector and  mine  operator  in  those  districts.  Very  many  of  the  features 
of  mining  could  be  helped  in  a  similar  manner  if  there  were  a  department 
specially  devoted  to  this  branch  of  human  activity.  There  might  be  ex- 
perimental stations  for  mining  as  well  as  for  agriculture,  with  who  knows 
how  great  advantage  to  the  world. 

A  second  point  which  I  desire  to  emphasize  is  the  importance  of  the 
mineral  industry.  Many  of  us,  when  we  speak  of  mining,  think  only  of 
gold,  silver,  lead,  zinc  and  copper  mines.  Important  as  these  are  in 
themselves,  do  they  not  look  secondary  when  we  place  them  beside  the 
tremendous  values  represented  by  the  production  of  iron,  coal,  petroleum, 
brick  and  other  clay  products,  building  stone  and  other  non-metallic  min- 
erals? Let  us  bear  in  mind  that  the  mineral  industry  stands  for  all  of 
these,  as  well  as  for  the  more  precious  metals.  .Let  us  remember  that 
mining  is  just  as  essential  to  human  progress  as  agriculture  itself.  Indeed, 
agriculture  could  not  have  advanced  except  for  mining,  because  without 
iron  man  would  still  be  tilling  the  soil  with  a  crooked  stick.  We  have 
every  reason  to  be  proud  and  to  glorify  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged. 
A  man  can  render  no  greater  service  to  his  race  than  to  find  minerals  and 
adapt  them  to  the  use  of  mankind.  There  are  many  other  arguments  in 
favor  a*  department  of  Mines  and  mining,  and  before  this  meeting 
adjourns,  I  hope  they  will  be  ably  set  forth,  and  that  they  will  receive 
the  careful  attention  of  every  member  present,  but  it  seems  to  me  that 
the  considerations  which  I  have  mentioned  ought  alone  to  convince  us  all 
that  the  propaganda  for  a  secretary  of  mines  and  mining  deserves  our 
hearty  and  unqualified  support. 

Col.  Thomas  E'wing  then  responded  on  behalf  of  the  territory  of 
Arizona. 

COL.  EiW.ING.  OF  ARIZONA:  Mr.  President,  Delegates  to  the  Mining 
Congress,  Citizens  of  Joplin,  and  of  the  Great  State  of  Missouri:  The 
great  state  your  distinguished  Governor  has  lauded  to  the  skies,  and  made 
us  love  so  well,  has  made  us  rejoice  that  we  are  here  tonight,  and  makes 
us  long  to  come  back  to  Missouri.  Having  been  born  in  the  great  state 
of  Missouri,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  be  born  again.  The  men  who  have 
responded  here  have  an  idea  they  must  laud  the  state  they  come  from. 
We  don't  have  to  blow  the  horn  for  our  state.  We  will  be  heard  from  in 
the  future.  Down  in  the  state  I  come  from,  the  territory  I  represent,  we 
have  a  large  crop  of  horned  toads  and  lightning  lizards.  We  also  have 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  23 

mines  down  there  that  produce  a  vast  amount  of  metal.  Our  copper 
mines  are  the  greatest  in  the  world.  Our  silver  and  gold  ores  are  wonder- 
fully rich,  and  our  mines  productive. 

We  also  have  a  good  crop  of  grafters,  as  well  as  other  people,  down 
there.  They  fill  your  papers  with  advertisements  of  ten-cent  stocks  and 
fifteen-cent  stocks  that  next  week  will  be  worth  $2.50.  We  ought  to  get 
a  law  passed  to  take  care  of  the  people  who  are  foolish  enough  to  buy 
any  of  tliem.  The  mining  interests  suffer  great  detriment  because  of  this 
kind  of  cheap  stock,  and  the  people  who  advertise  them  should  be  pun- 
ished. These  frauds  should  be  stopped,  and  every  state  in  the  Union 
interested  in  mining  should  take  up  this  matter  and  pass  laws,  as  your 
Governor  recommends.  I  want  to  say  this  about  your  great  reform  Gov- 
ernor: He  is  very  popular  out  in  the  West.  We  hear  every  day  about  him 
and  whr.t  you  people  in  Missouri  do. 

Your  Mayor  so  kindly  turned  the  whole  town  over  to  us,  and  has  told 
us  to  take  everything  we  see.  By  jove,  we  want  to  take  the  whole  of  you 
with  UP.  You  will  be  bored  by  convention  after  convention  in  this  great 
city",  I  am  afraid.  I  expect  every  one  will  want  to  come  here  every  year 
after  seeing  the  way  you  have  entertained  us  and  opened  your  hearts  to 
us  all. 

I  am  not  here  to  make  a  speech  tonight,  and  I  thank  you  on  behalf  of 
Arizona  very  much  for  the  kind  welcome  you  have  given  us,  and  I  will  be 
only  too  glad  to  stay  with  you  as  long  as  I  can. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  I  want  to  say  to  you  that  I  am  authorized  to 
express  the  gratitude  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  for  this  generous 
.welcome,  and  if  you  want  to  show  us  the  highest  courtesy  you  can,  give 
us  the  pleasure  of  your  attendance  here  at  our  sessions.  We  will  now 
listen  to  the  closing  song  by  the  Apollo  Club. 


TUESDAY,    NOVEMBER    12,    1907. 

Morning  Session. 

The  Congress  was  called  to  order  at  9:30  o'clock  a.  m.  by  President 
Richards. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  committee  having  arranged  for  a 
continuance  of  the  responses  to  the  addresses  of  welcome,  Mr.  Richard 
Riepe,  of  Nevada,  will  new  respond  on  behalf  of  his  state. 

RICHARD  RIEPE,  OF  NEVADA:  Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentle- 
men: The  great  trait  of  the  people  of  Nevada  in  the  present  financial 
crisis  has  been  confidence.  When  the  banks  of  "Reno"  and  of  a  great 
many  other  places  in  the  state  of  Nevada  opened  their  doors  after  a  few 
days  of  temporary  suspension,  the  deposits  exceeded  the  withdrawals. 

The  confidence  of  the  people  of  Nevada  is  due  to  their  unshakable 
faith  in  their  state. 

It  is  faith  based  on  knowledge,  and  born  of  experience.  Nevada  has 
the  most  surprising  recuperative  powers  of  any  commonwealth  in  the 
Union. 

Instead  of  being  the  petted  and  pampered  member  of  the  Sisterhood 
of  States,  she  is  the  Family  Football. 

Her  chief  industry  has  been  silver  mining.  The  Congress  of  the 
United  States  demonetized  silver  in  1873.  The  year  after  the  demonetiza- 
tion, she  was  at  the  height  of  her  prosperity.  She  did  not  know  she  had 
been  touched.  Nearly  twenty-four  years  after  demonetization,  to  clinch 
matters,  the  country  went  on  a  gold  standard.  The  blow  was  delivered 
below  the  belt  and  given  without. warning.  Nevada  took  it  cheerfully,  and 
went  to  looking  for  gold.  It  might  be  incidentally  said  that  the  country 
had  just  emerged  from  a  desperate  panic  (which  you  all  well  remember 
a  harder  one  than  the  present  one)  in  which,  of  course,  Nevada  was  com- 
pelled to  share. 

Nevada  after  this  found  her  gold,  and  again  became  the  most  pros- 
perous state  in  the  Union. 


24  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS  - 

Then  the  knockers  took  a  hand.  The  following  publications  are  some 
of  them:  "Collier'b  Weekly,"  "Harper's  Weekly,"  also,  "The  Saturday 
Evening  Post,"  and  a  host  of  subsidized  sheets.  They  made  a  general 
onslaught  on  the  state  of  Nevada  "And  My  Beloved  People." 

Nevada  took  her  medicine  smiling  and  bravely,  and  said  to  them: 
"What  fools  you  mortals  be." 

A  few  days  ago  a  great  many  banks  suspended  in  a  great  many  places 
and  cities  in  Nevada  temporarily.  Our  money  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
state  is  mostly  loaned  and  kept  in  Salt  Lake  City,  while  the  western  part 
of  Nevada  has  its  funds  in  the  banks  of  San  Francisco,  California,  to 
build  up  that  city  from  ashes.  "Phoenix-like,"  Nevada  faces  it  all,  undis- 
heartened  and  undismayed;  "Her  head  is  bloody,  but  unbowed." 

She  has  the  recuperative  power  of  the  proverbial  cat  with  nine  lives. 

She  cannot  be  killed  or  down  trodden.  Nevada  is  the  mainstay  of 
the  nation  at  the  present  time,  and  always  will  be,  just  as  she  was  from 
1861  to  1865,  and  in  the  years  following  she  was,  when  the  resumption  of 
payment  was  the  chief  problem  of  "our  nation  and  statesmen." 

Won't  this  dirty,  lying  sheet  that  I  mentioned  before  admit  that  we 
people  of  Nevada  sustained  the  credit  of  Uncle  Sam  and  the  nation. 

Did  he  not  use  our  three  electoral  votes  in  the  electoral  college  to 
save  the  Union? 

Did  he  not  use  the  votes  in  the  Senate  of  that  great  man  the  "Hon. 
William  M.  Stewart,"  the  father  of  our  federal  mining  laws?  And  that 
man  helped  save  the  Union.  Did  not  the  old  reliable  Comstock  throw 
six  hundred  millions  of  money  in  Uncle  Sam's  lap? 

Did  we  not  uphold  and  sustain  the  credit  of  the  nation?  Business  is 
based  on  credit.  Credit  on  money  Money  on  gold.  Nevada  is  producing 
the  stuff  that  all  the  world  wants.  Nevada  'will  produce  this  year  more 
than  twenty  millions  in  gold.  A  few  more  states  producing  an  equal 
amount  would  have  prevented  the  present  financial  troubles.  1  believe, 
and  am  satisfied  in  my  mind,  that  Goldfield  and  Tonopah  will  produce 
twenty  millions  alone.  Where  are  there  two  other  camps  that  can  make 
the  same  showing? 

I  already  see  the  clouds  roll  by  and  notice  in  the  distance  far  beyond 
"a  silver  lining."  Nevada  will  again  be  riding  the  crest  of  the  wave  of 
prosperity,  Serene,  indifferent  of  fate,  glorying  in  her  own  strength, 
relying  in  her  own  resources,  proud  of  the  past  and  secure  in  her  future. 

The  latch  string  always  hangs  out.  Our  state  is  the  state  of  pros- 
perity, and  her  future  is  greater  and  brighter  than  any  other  state  in  the 
Union.  We  have  camps  and  cities  like  Goldfield,  Tonopah,  Bullfrog, 
Rhyolite,  Beatty,  Yeringtoii,  Fairview,  Wonder,  Manhattan,  Seven 
Troughs,  Round  Mountain,  Rawhide,  the  last  baby  boy  born.  Stout,  and 
a  healthy  one  he  is;  only  six  weeks  old,  but  fifteen  hundred  people  are 
there.  Hotels  and  stores  and  all  kinds  of  business  houses  are  put  up. 
Also  the  inevitable  saloon  is  there,  represented  in  numbers.  So  if  you 
go  there  you  need  not  go  dry,  but  can  irrigate  if  you  want  to.  Rawhide 
is  the  latest  and  newest  camp  in  Nevada.  To  keep  track  of  the  new 
camps  in  Nevada  a  person  needs  an  automobile  up  to  date.  They  come 
like  mushrooms,  during  the  night. 

A  word  or  two  for  the  "Old  Camps."  There  is  Pioche,  which  is  just 
connected  with  a  railroad,  "The  Las  Vegas  or  Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake 
City;"  Tuscarora,  Eureka,  Belmont,  Tyo,  Austin,  Battle  Mountain,  and  a 
great  many  others,  coming  to  the  front  again.  But  not  the  last  one  and 
not  the  least,  I  should  mention  my  dear  old  stamping  ground  Ely,  which 
is  bound  to  be  heard  from  soon.  From  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic  ocean 
will  she  sound  the  trumpet,  whenever  we  blow  in  our  smelters.  We  are 
building  the  greatest  smelter  in  the  United  States,  or  under  the  sun.  The 
first  unit  of  a  ten-million  reduction  works  will  blow  in  about  the  first  of 
the  year.  We  have  one  of  the  best  railroads — the  Nevada  Northern — to 
connect  us  with  the  Central  Pacific,  or,  rather,  Southern  Pacific  System. 
We  have  everything  in  our  midst,  except  elevators  and  street  cars,  and 
when  I  meet  you  again,  "God  willing,"  I  hope  I  will  be  able  to  say  to  you. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  25 

"We  have  those  comforts,  too."     A  street  car  franchise  will  be  given  or 
passed  the  next  meeting  of  our  city  council. 

The  elevators  will  come  before  we  know  it.  We  are  going  to  have 
the  greatest  copper  camp  in  Ely,  Nevada.  It  will  be  a  second  Butte  City. 
What  Butte  City  is  in  Montana,  Ely  will  be  in  Nevada.  I  don't  care  how 
bad  the  present  situation  is,  we  have  the  mines.  We  have  the  bulk  of  ore. 
Mountains  of  it.  Nevada  Consolidated  has  sixty  million  tons  blocked  out, 
while  the  Giroux  Consolidated  has  forty  million;  and  the  Cumberland  and 
Ely  twenty  million  tons  inside,  and  a  great  many  others  beside. 

We  can  produce  copper  cheaper  than  any  other  place  in  the  United 
States.  We  can  produce  it  for  less  than  seven  cents  a  pound. 

We  people  of  Nevada  are  the  people,  and  going  to  be.  I  invite  you  all 
to  come  to  our  state. 

Don't  knock,  walk  in. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  My  friends,  in  introducing  the  gentleman  1 
now  introduce,  I  feel  that  I  am  justified  in  saying  that  I  regard  him  as  one 
of  the  greatest  minds  of  the  West,  and  I  know  you  will  all  enjoy  hearing 
him:  Victor  C.  Alderson,  of  Colorado,  president  of  the  Colorado  School  of 
Mines,  who  will  respond  on  behalf  of  his  state. 

VICTOR  C.  ALDERSON,  OF  COLORADO:  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 
I  am  sorry  for  that  introduction,  because  if  it  were  true  I  should 
have  to  buy  a  new  hat,  and  currency  is  exceedingly  scarce.  I 
must,  I  am  afraid,  continue  to  wear  my  old  one.  The  Judge 
is  exceedingly  kind,  but  I  am  afraid  his  judgment  has  been  warped 
a  little  by  his  kindness.  I  cannot  help  but  think  of  a  remark  made  by 
the  Governor  last  night.  It  explains  what  I  observed  yesterday  in  com- 
ing into  Missouri.  As  I  looked  out  of  the  car  windows  I  saw  my  favorite 
bird,  the  hen.  The  hens  I  saw  had  a  worn,  weary,  tired  look.  I  did  not 
understand  why  they  should  look  so.  The  hen  is  a  favorite  bird  of  mine. 
I  prefer  her  perhaps  in  the  form  of  a  chicken  fry  Missouri  style,  perhaps, 
but  when  the  Governor  said  last  night  what  he  did  about  the  poor  Mis- 
souri hen  yielding  a  product  in  excess  of  the  silver  product  of  Colorado,  I 
know  the  reason  why  that  hen  was  so  tired  and  that  was  because  she  had 
worked  for  a  record.  (Applause.)  So,  I  quietly  suggested  to  the  Gov- 
ernor when  it  was  all  over  that  he  gather  together  the  most  tired  out  of 
the  Missouri  hens  and  send  them  to  Colorado  for  a  vacation,  and  after 
he  had  thoroughly  recuperated  them,  that  we  could  send  them  back,  and 
then  perhaps  we  could  guarantee  they  would  exceed  in  their  product  the 
gold  production  of  Colorado.  (Applause.)  If  it  has  not  been  already 
thoroughly  stated,  it  ought  to  be,  that  this  is  the  tenth  birthday  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress.  It  ought  to  be  stated  most  emphatically  that 
she  has  received  the  most  cordial,  the  most  enthusiastic  reception  she  has 
ever  received  anywhere.  (Applause.)  We  who  gather  from  the  West, 
from  Montana  and  from  Utah,  and  from  Colorado,  and  came  sliding  down 
this  way,  we  just  gathered  enthusiasm  as  we  came.  It  seemed  as  though 
the  nearer  we  came  to  the  great  state  of  Missouri  the  warmer  we  felt 
the  welcome.  We  even  had  to  stay  over  in  Kansas  City  for  a  few  hours, 
and  there,  much  to  my  surprise,  while  I  had  heard  of  the  harvest  moon 
and  the  golden  moon,  and  several  other  kinds  of  moons,  and  duplicate 
moons,  I  had  never  until  that  time  seen  a  blue  moon,  and  some  of  our 
party  not  only  saw  one  blue  moon,  but  quarreled  about  their  being  two 
or  three. 

The  nearer  we  came  to  Missouri  and  the  nearer  we  came  to  Joplin, 
the  warmer  and  more  cordial  it  seemed  to  be,  and,  as  I  said,  culminated 
last  night  in  the  finest  reception  this  Congress  has  ever  had.  We  are  here, 
I  think,  because  we  have  now  to  do  perhaps  the  greatest  work  that  has 
ever  come  before  this  Congress.  It  seems  auspicious  that  we  should 
come  to  a  great  mining  center  like  this  to  do  that  work.  We  have  great 
problems  before  us.  I  sincerely  hope  that  in  the  one  problem  in  which 
I  have  taken  the  most  interest  that  we  shall  be  successful  at  the  next 
session  of  Congress.  I  believe  in  going  after  what  is  within  reach.  I  have 
in  mind  the  work  of  this  Congress  towards  getting  governmental  recog- 
nition at  Washington.  I  have  been  unpopular,  perhaps,  at  times  in  saying 


26  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

that  I  did  not  believe  it  was  within  the  range  of  possibilities  to  get  a 
department.  I  have  been  in  Washington  a  little,  and  I  have  felt  from 
getting  close  to  the  people  there  that  a  department  was  an  absolute  im- 
possibility at  one  stroke.  Now,  those  of  you  who  are  fathers  of  interesting 
girls  know  how  you  get  worked.  If  your  little  girl  wants  $5  for  something, 
if  she  is  smart,  as  sne  probably  is,  she  does  not  say,  "Daddy,  please  give 
me  $5."  Not  at  all.  She  begins  on  a  dollar  and  you  loosen  up  on  one 
dollar,  and  she  afterwards  talks  for  a  second  dollar  and  you  loosen  up  on 
the  second  dollar,  and  before  you  know  it,  she  probably  has  the  $5,  and 
perhaps  $10  or  more,  because  you  are  easy.  It  is  a  gradual  process.  It 
is  exactly  the  same  way  in  getting  governmental  recognition  in  Wash- 
ington. We  have  none  now.  If  we  can  get  in  on  something,  then  we  will 
get  another  dollar  and  another  dollar,  and  in  a  few  years  we  shall  get  all 
that  we  want,  but  if  we  should  refuse  to  take  what  we  can  get,  we  will 
be  a  long  time  knocking  at  the  door.  I  thoroughly  believe  that  if  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  has  recognized  our  just  deserts,  recognized  what  we  are 
entitled  to  now,  that  is  a  bureau,  we  had  better  unite  our  forces  and  go 
after  a  bureau,  and  after  we  get  that,  unite  our  forces  and  go  after  a 
department.  It  is  the  logical  order  of  things.  That  to  me  is  one  of  the 
great  things  before  this  Congress.  I  hope  it  will  come  up  and  be  dis- 
cussed in  the  right  way,  and  that  the  right  forces  will  be  put  at  work  to 
get  that  governmental  recognition  at  Washington,  because  without  some 
governmental  recognition  we  can  expect  exactly  nothing  in  the  way  of 
legislative  help  or  anything  of  that  sort.  But  I  have  already  taken  too 
long.  I  thank  you. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  last  gentleman  I  will  introduce  to  you 
this  morning  is  perhaps  the  most  persistent  and  consistent  worker  for 
the  objects  of  this  Congress  of  any  man  in  the  East  throughout  the  years 
that  it  has  been  in  existence,  and  that  is  Dr.  J.  A.  Holmes  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey,  who  is  here  both  as  a  member  of  the  Congress 
and  as  a  representative  of  the  state  of  North  Carolina. 

DR.  J.  A.  HOLMES  of  North  Carolina:  Members  of  the  American 
Mining  Congress,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Your  President  said  to  me  a 
moment  ago  that  the  members  of  the  Congress  were  slow  in  coming  in 
and  he  would  like  to  have  a  few  more  minutes'  time  occupied  by  some 
one,  so  he  has  asked  me  to  respond  on  the  part  of  the  state  of  North 
Carolina  to  the  greeting  which  was  given  us  in  so  hearty  a  manner  on  last 
evening. 

That  state,  which  I  am  informed  by  one  of  the  Vice  Presidents  of 
this  organization,  was  at  one  time  spoken  of  a  "strip  of  land  between 
South  Carolina  and  Virginia,"  and  we  are  told  further  that  people  com- 
ing from  that  state  used  to  say  that  they  came  "from  North  Carolina  near 
the  Virginia  boundary."  You  will  be  glad  to  know  that  such  a  condition  is 
a  thing  of  the  past.  Now  people  passing  through  thtis  strip  of  land  take 
off  their  hats  with  respectful  courtesy  because  they  recognize  the  fact 
that  this  commonwealth  has  made  such  progress  during  the  past  twenty 
years  that  today  it  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  of  those  old  common- 
wealths— grown  young  again — which  made  up  the  original  thirteen. 

Mr.  President,  North  Carolina  has  something  to  say  in  reference  to 
the  mining  interests  of  this  country,  because  this  one  state  which  secured 
rights  originally  from  the  crown  of  England  has  been  mining  ever  since, 
and  the  man  in  North  Carolina  who  migrated  from  that  state  to  the  West 
to  engage  in  mining  have  done  well  in  California,  Colorado  and  elsewhere, 
some  of  them  are  now  coming  back  to  the  great  old  North  State. 

North  Carolina  sends  greetings  to  this  Congress  in  behalf  of  equal 
justice  and  equal  opportunity  for  all  men  in  mining  work.  It  has  always 
stood  to  the  aid  of  the  individual  in  the  struggle  for  existence  and  oppor- 
tunity against  combinations,  whether  state,  federal,  corporation  or  of  a 
private  character. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  Congress  in  connection  with  its  mining  inter- 
ests to  help  the  individual  miner,  and  when  we  see  the  development  of 
corporate  wealth  in  this  country  so  that  perhaps  seven-eighths  of  the 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  27 

wealth  of  the  country  is  now  said  to  be  in  the  hands  of  less  than  one 
per  cent,  of  the  population;  when  we  see  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  coun- 
try accumulated  during  thousands  and  even  millions  of  years,  and  for  the 
creation  of  which  no  man  has  had  to  do,  now  under  the  control  of  the 
few,  we  see  the  ways  along  which  the  individual  needs  help.  He  needs 
to  be  supplied  with  accurate  information.  He  need§  the  help  of  proper 
legislation,  such  as  will  safeguard  the  interests  of  the  individual,  as 'well 
as  those  of  the  strong  corporation,  and  encourage  individual  effort. 

In  this  Joplin  district,  both  the  individual  and  the  corporate  spirit  "is 
good;  legislation  and  community  practice  both  encourage  individual  ef- 
fort. The  general  natural  conditions  have  been  such  as  to  foster  the  indi- 
vidual element;  and  I  know  of  no  part  of  the  country  where  we  see  it 
developed  more  than  within  this  district.  The  governor  said  we  would 
find  here  a  larger  percentage  of  successful  individuals  in  connection  with 
this  Jcplin  mining  development  than  we  would  find  in  any  other  part  of  the 
country;  and  I  believe  he  is  correct. 

We  are  going  to  ask  this  Mining  Congress  to  march  into  the  coal  field 
and  capture  the  help  of  the  mining  interests  in  the  central  portion  of  the 
United  States.  Then  with  the  concentrated  effort  on  the  part  of  the  min- 
ing men  from  all  sections  of  the  country  we  may  be  prepared  to  obtain  the 
co-operation  and  help  from  both  the  federal  and  state  governments  to 
which  we  claim  the  mining  industry  is  entitled. 

We  are  today  using  up  our  mineral  resources  so  rapidly  that  we  are 
consuming  both  our  own  share  and  the  share  belonging  to  the  future.  We 
are  dealing  with  great  national  problems  as  never  before  in  the  history 
of  our  mineral  development;  and  we  must  consider  and  solve  these  prob- 
lems in  a  true  national  spirit.  In  this  connection  the  American  Mining 
Congress  must  capture  the  East  and  the  South  as  it  has  the  West.  Let 
us,  therefore,  hold  our  next  two  meetings,  one  in  the  heart  of  the  Missis- 
sippi valley  coal  fields,  and  another  in  the  heart  of  the  Alleghanies,  (prob- 
ably at  Pittsburg).  We  will  thus  gain  in  eastern  membership  and  in- 
fluence, and  will  become  truly  representative  of  the  great  American  min- 
ing industries.  We  will  then  the  more  easily  accomplish  the  great  national 
purposes  for  which  we  have  our  being. 

North  Carolina  thanks  Joplin  for  this  cordial  greeting.  She  assures 
the  Congress  of  her  co-operation  in  carrying  out  its  great  purposes. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  think  you  will  notice  that  I  did  not 
introduce  Dr.  Holmes  to  respond  on  behalf  of  North  Carolina,  because  I 
did  not  wish  to  limit  him  to  that  state,  notwithstanding  its  greatness, 
because,  in  my  judgment,  he  is  becoming  a  national  character  so  far  as 
mining  is  concerned,  and  I  wanted  him  to  talk  from  that  standpoint 
without  limitation. 

I  desire  to  announce  the  appointment  of  the  credentials  committee  as 
follows:  „  •  •"  't  -:';!T'1|i 

Capt.  E.  O.  Bartlett,  of  Joplin. 

C.  W.  Wilker,  of  St.  Louis. 

C.  F.  Hutchinson,  of  San  Francisco. 

The  resolutions  committee  should  go  to  work  at  once,  as  it  is  one  of  the 
most  important  committees  of  the  Congress.  We  therefore  request  that 
each  state  hand  to  the  secretary  the  name  of  the  man  who  il  is  desired 
should  represent  that  state  upon  that  committee.  I  want  to  suggest  an- 
other thing.  All  resolutions  that  are  introduced  are  to  be  first  handed  to 
the  secretary  that  they  may  be  read  to  the  Congress,  and  that  he  may 
number  them  and  keep  track  of  that  part  of  the  work.  Then  they  will 
go  to  the  Resolutions  Committee,  where  they  will  be  acted  upon  and 
reported  to  the  chairman  of  that  committee.  The  next  on  the  program 
is  report  of  the  committee  on  a  uniform  law  governing  metalliferous  min- 
ing and  quarrying  in  the  various  states,  W.  R.  Ingalls,  of  New  York  City, 
chairman.  The  report  was  read  by  the  secretary  as  follows; 


28  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

To  the  American  Mining  Congress. 

Gentlemen:  The  committee  on  the  drafting  of  a  law  to  govern 
metalliferous  mining  and  quarrying  reports  that  it  has  organized  and  has 
entered  upon  consideration  of  the  subject.  For  the  present  it  recommends 
only  that  the  American  Mining  Congress  cause  to  be  printed  for  general 
distribution  the  existing  laws  of  the  various  states  on  this  subject.  The 
purpose  of  the  committee  in  making  this  recommendation  is  to  invite 
suggestions  from  mine  operators  and  all  who  are  engaged  in  mining 
operations,  which  will  be  helpful  to  the  committee  in  its  consideration  of 
the  subject.  Respectfully  submitted, 

W.   R.    INGALLS, 
f  Chairman. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  As  the  report  is  short  and  some  explana- 
tion seems  to  be  required,  we  will  call  upon  Mr.  Ingalls  to  make  further 
explanation. 

MR.  W.  R.  INGALLS,  OF  NEW  YORK:  Members  of  the  Congress: 
The  report  of  this  committee  you  have  just  heard  read  is  extremely  brief 
and  it  would  seem  to  me,  as  the  president  has  suggested,  that  a  few 
words  of  explanation  are  in  order.  The  task  upon  which  the  committee 
has  entered  is  one  of  such  magnitude  that  it  is  evident  that  a  full  con- 
sideration of  the  subject  is  a  matter  which  will  occupy  several  years. 
The  purpose  of  the  committee  is  not  to  consider  the  laws  of  the  states 
affecting  mining  titles  or  anything  of  that  character,  but  simply  the  laws 
of  the  states  governing  or  pertaining  to  the  matter  of  safety  in  mining 
operations — matters  which  come  within  the  police  functions  of  the  various 
states.  Many  of  the  states  at  the  present  time  have  such  laws.  Many 
states  in  which  mining  is  extensively  carried  on  have  no  laws  whatever 
of  this  character.  Even  so  important  a  mining  state  as  California  has  no 
law  governing  mining.  There  is  a  demand  on  the  part  of  the  men  who 
work  in  our  mines  that  every  possible  precaution  shall  be  taken  and 
insured  by  adequate  legislation  to  insure  their  safety.  Certainly  that  is 
a  demand  in  which  all  honest  operators  can  join.  The  committee  ap- 
pointed to  consider  this  question  consists  of  Mr.  John  Hays  Hammond, 
of  New  York,  Dr.  James  Douglas,  Mr.  J.  Parke  Channing,  Mr.  J.  R.  Findlay 
and  myself.  The  appointment  of  the  committee,  or,  rather,  the  accept- 
ances, were  made  so  late  in  the  spring  that  most  of  the  members  had 
already  gone  away  for  their  summer  vacations,  and  consequently  it  was 
an  impossibility  to  bring  them  together  until  shortly  before  this  meeting. 
Progress  has  been  made  in  securing  copies  of  the  existing  laws,  and  the 
committee  has  considered  that  the  best  recommendation  it  can  make  at 
the  present  time  is  the  one  that  is  contained  in  the  report  that  the  secre- 
tary has  read  to  you;  that  is  to  say,  that  the  existing  laws  of  the  states 
shall  be  printed  so  that  they  will  be  available  in  convenient  form  to  be 
submitted  to  those  interested  in  mining.  The  purpose  of  this  recommenda- 
tion being  to  invite  suggestions  upon  the  part  of  all  who  are  interested 
in  the  question. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  opportunity  is  extended  to  any  one 
on  the  floor  to  make  any  suggestions  he  may  desire  for  the  welfare  of  this 
work.  We  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  any  of  you  at  this  time. 

W.  F.  R.  MILLS,  OF  COLORADO:  Is  it  proper  at  this  time  to  make 
a  motion  that  this  committee  represented  by  Mr.  Ingalls  be  continued  for 
another  year? 

MR.  RICHARDS:     I  think  so. 

Mr.  George  Otis  Smith,  Director  of  the  United  States  Geological  Sur- 
vey of  Washington,  then  responded  on  behalf  of  Maine  and  the  District 
of  Columbia: 

GEO.  OTIS  SMITH:  Members  of  the  American  Mining  Congress: 
I  am  embarrassed  at  the  start  by  this  double  honor  thrust  upon  me.  Speak- 
ing for  Maine  and  the  District  of  Columbia  as  two  of  the  greatest  mining 
districts  of  the  Union,  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin. 

Let  me  represent  first  the  state  of  Maine.  As  a  mining  state,  as  a 
producer  of  important  minerals,  Maine  must  rely  largely  upon  her  pro- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  29 

duction  of  such  products  as  granite,  slate  and  ice.  Some  years  ago  I 
planned  to  write  a  paper  on  the  mineral  resources  of  the  state  of  Maine, 
and  in  planning  this  paper  I  at  once  thought  of  the  tin  deposits,  meaning 
by  tin  deposits  those  deposits  that  come  to  Maine  annually  along  with 
the  summer  visitors — the  Maine  natives  being  especially  expert  in  their 
methods  by  which  the  tin  is  extracted  from  these  summer  visitors.  One 
of  my  friends — one  of  those  geologists  who  attaches  much  importance  to 
the  shape  in  which  ore  bodies  occur — asked  me  in  what  form  these  ore 
bodies  usually  occurred,  and  I  said  in  pockets.  (Applause.)  That  paper 
as  yet  has  not  been  published,  and  this  is"  simply  an  advance  bulletin 
which  I  am  giving  you. 

Maine,  however,  in  spite  of  the  small  annual  production  of  articles 
of  mineral  wealth,  has  been  foremost  in  the  support  which  it  has  given 
the  mining  industry.  The  dollars  have  flowed  from  Maine  annually  in  the 
support  of  the  mines  and  the  non-mines  of  the  West,  and  with  the  charity 
that  is  characteristic  of  the  Yankee,  they  have  always  given  the  most  of 
their  wealth  to  the  places  where  it  was  most  needed,  and  in  very  few 
cases  has  it  been  true  that  the  bread  thus  cast  upon  the  waters  has  ever 
returned. 

Now  may  I  speak  for  a  moment  of  that  other  mining  district — the 
District  of  Columbia.  It  is  a  place  where  we  are  not  endowed  with  the 
rights  of  suffrage  or  of  free  speech,  and  if  I  hesitate  in  speaking  my  mind 
at  this  time  you  will  know  the  reason.  We  are  not  given  that  permission 
to  so  indulge  ourselves  in  Washington.  Representatives  from  all  your 
states  take  upon  themselves  this  duty  of  speaking  and  also  of  law-making 
in  our  behalf.  However,  we  cannot  speak  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
without  mentioning  that  we  are  also  producers.  I  suppose  that  we  lead 
the  Union  in  the  production  of  gold  and  silver — certificates,  and  probably 
no  state  in  the  Union  has  so  large  a  reserve  of  gold  and  silver.  There 
are  many  things  which  we  do  there,  but  in  the  few  moments  that  I  am 
allowed,  I  could  not  mention  them  all. 

I  am,  however,  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  expressing  to  you  the  in- 
terest which  all  of  us  at  Washington  feel  in  the  reforms  which  you  are 
advocating  and  which  this  Congress  is  working  for — governmental  recog- 
nition. (Applause.)  While  we  of  Washington  do  not  see  at  our  doors 
the  need  of  reform  in  the  mining  laws,  many  of  us  have  been  in  a  position 
to  observe  the  workings  of  the  present  law  in  the  Western  country,  and 
we  are  thoroughly  in  accord  with  all  that  you  desire.  We  are  glad  of 
the  opportunities  that  we  have  had  to  observe.  We  will  be  glad  to  use 
these  observations  in  your  behalf  and  to  help  you  in  bringing  about  those 
reforms  which  you  believe  and  we  believe  are  so  much  needed.  I  also 
wish  to  thank  the  President  of  your  Congress  for  the  visit  that  he  has 
made  us  recently.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  be  brought  in  touch  with  your  organi- 
zation through  such  a  mediator.  All  that  we  ask  in  behalf  of  the  District 
of  Columbia  of  those  interested  in  the  mining  industry  of  the  country 
is  that  we  may  know  you  better,  and  that  you  may  know  us  better.  I 
thank  you,  gentlemen. 

MR.  MILLS:  I  will  then  make  a  motion  to  the  effect  that  the  com- 
mittee of  which  Mr.  Ingalls  is  chairman  be  continued  for  another  year  in 
the  same  work. 

Being  duly  seconded,  the  motion  was  put  and  carried. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  suggest  that  each  state,  through  its 
chairman,  announce  now  publicly  from  the  floor  of  the  convention  the 
name  of  its  member  of  the  committee  on  resolutions  so  that  we  can 
become  acquainted  with  each  other. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection,  the  secretary  will 
call  the  roll.  As  the  name  of  each  state  is  called  the  chairman  of  the 
delegation  will  please  announce  the  name  of  the  man  selected  to  serve  on 
this  committee. 


30  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Committee  on  Resolutions. 
State.  Name.  City. 

Arkansas A.  W.  Estes Yell ville 

Arizona Col.  Thos.  Ewing Vivian 

California C.  T.  Hutchinson   San  Francisco 

Connecticut    Dr.  L.  D.  Hun  toon New  Haven 

Colorado   W.  F.  R.  Mills   Denver 

Idaho   H.  F.  Samuels Wallace 

Indian  Territory .W.  F.  Sidell '. Bartlesville 

Illinois  Dr.  H.  Foster  Bain   Urbana 

Iowa D.  O.  Campbell  Cleveland 

Kansas    Dr.  Erasmus  Haworth   Lawrence 

Montana Carl  Galigher Butte 

Missouri    Elias  S.  Gatch St.  Louis 

Minnesota F.  A.  Brown   Duluth 

Nebraska Col  Geo.  W.  E.  Dorsey ....'...  Fremont 

Nevada    Richard  A.  Riepe Ely 

New  Mexico Prof.  A.  K.  Adams Socorro 

New  York W.  R.  Ingalls   New  York 

Ohio F.  Wallace  White   Cleveland 

Oklahoma Dr.  Chas.  N.  Gould   Norman 

Pennsylvania H.  H.  Stoek Scranton 

South  Carolina H.  L,  Scaife Clinton 

Utah H.  S.  Joseph  . . . : Salt  Lake  City 

Washington    R.  H.  Kemp Spokane 

West  Virginia Dr.  H.  M.  Payne Morgan  town 

Wisconsin E.  T.  Wright Milwaukee 

Wyoming M.  N.  Grant Laramie 

Officers. 

Col.  Geo.  W.  E.  Dorsey,  Nebraska,  Chairman. 
Dr.  Chas.  N.  Gould,  Oklahoma,  Secretary. 

Sub  Committee. 
"  W.  F.  R.  Mills,  Colorado,  Chairman. 

W.  R.  Ingalls,  New  York;  Dr.  H.  F.  Bain,  Illinois;  C.  T.  Hutchinson, 
California;  Elias  S.  Gatch,  Missouri. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  next  on  the  program  is  an  address, 
"Prospecting  for  Gas  and  Petroleum,"  by  Dr.  Erasmus  Haworth  of  the 
State  University,  Lawrence,  Kansas. 

Dr.  Haworth's  address  will  be  found  on  Page  247  of  this  Report. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  am  sure  we  feel  grateful  for  the  ad- 
dress-we  have  just  listened  to.  The  Secretary  has  some  announcements 
to  make. 

The  Secretary  then  read  Resolutions  as  follows: 

Resolution   No.  1. 

(Introduced  by  Lewis  E.  Aubury  of  California.) 

Resolved,  By  the  American  Mining  Congress  in  convention  assembled : 
That  we  favor  the  enactment  of  a  law  by  our  National  Congress,  in  which 
shall  be  incorporated  the  following: 

"On  all  patents  for  lands  classified  as  other  than  mineral,  and  which 
may  hereinafter  be  issued,  all  mineral  rights  shall  be  reserved  by  the 
governments,  and  that  separate  patent  shall  issue  for  such  mineral  rights 
after  the  proper  requirements  have  been  complied  with. 

Resolution    No.  2. 

(Introduced  by  W.  H.  Graves  of  Colorado.) 

Whereas,  There  are  many  real  or  self-styled  mining  engineers,  prac- 
ticing in  the  United  States  as  consulting  mining  engineers,  who  have  not 
the.  best  interests  of  their  profession,  or  of  the  investing  public,  at  heart, 
and  who  give  aid  to  the  promotion  of  fraudulent  mining  schemes  of  vari- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  31 

cms  kinds  by  making  false  reports  on  properties,  or  reports  intended  to 
mislead,  for  the  purpose  of  defrauding  investors  or  others,  and 

Whereas,  Those  mining  engineers  who  are  following  their  profession 
in  a  legitimate  manner,  making  honest  reports  on  properties  for  honest 
purposes,  are  injured  by  the  general  discredit  cast  upon  the  profession 
by  the  dishonest  ones,  and 

Whereas,  In  the  opinion  of  many,  the  time  has  come  when  some  action 
is  necessary  for  placing  control,  or  restraint,  over  all  consulting  mining 
engineers,  whereby  the  dishonest  ones  can  be  prohibited  from  practicing 
their  profession;  be.it 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  in 
session  at  Joplin,  Missouri,  appoint  a  committee  of  five  members  of  this 
Congress — at  least  three  of  whom  are  to  be  mining  engineers — whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  investigate  this  matter  in  its  various  phases  and  to 
consider  the  matter  of  drawing  up  a  bill  designed  to  remedy  the  evil,  per- 
haps by  requiring  all  consulting  mining  engineers  to  be  licensed,  which 
bill  is  to  be  brought  before  the  legislatures  of  the  several  mining  states; 
this  bill  to  be  presented  for  ratification  at  the  1908  session  of  the  Ame'ri- 
can  Mining  Congress. 

Resolution    No.  3. 
(Introduced  by  Samuel  R.  House  of  Colorado.) 

Whereas,  It  is  apparent  that  the  free  importation  of  foreign  zinc  ores 
into  the  United  States^  is  inimical  to  the  direct  interests  of  the  miners 
of  zinc  ores  in  the  United  States,  and 

Whereas,  The  principle  of  protection  has  been  applied  to  the  produc- 
tion of  spelter  and  unrefined  zinc  products,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  American  Mining  Congress  in  convention  assembled, 
that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  urged  to  impose  such  a  duty 
on  the  importation  of  zinc  ores  into  the  United  States  as  will  protect  the 
interests  of  the  miners  of  zinc  ores. 

Resolution    No.  4. 
(Introduced  by  H.  S.  Joseph  of  Utah.) 

Whereas,  One  of  the  primary  objects  of  this  Congress  is  to  promul- 
gate the  creation  of  a  National  Department  of  Mines  and  Mining,  and 

Whereas,  The  several  legislatures  of  the  several  states  have  from 
time  to  time  passed  memorials  to  Congress  petitioning  that  such  a  depart- 
ment be  created,  and 

Whereas,  No  definite  action  has  as  yet  been  taken  by  National  Con- 
gress on  this  proposition,  and 

Whereas,  All  the  mining  states,  irrespective  of  political  affiliation  and 
beliefs,  are  most  vitally  interested  in  having  such  a  department  created, 
and 

Whereas,  It  should  be  made  incumbent  upon  the  representatives  to 
the  National  halls  of  Congress  and  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
representing,  as  they  do,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  to  advocate 
the  establishment  of  a  national  Department  of  Mines  and  Mining,  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  the  conventions  of  each  national  party  meeting  in 
1908,  for  the  selection  of  candidates  for  the  Presidency  of.  the  United 
States,  and  the  selection  of  a  national  platform,  be  memorialized  by  this 
Congress  to  insert  in  their  respective  platforms  a  plank  pledging  its 
respective  candidates  to  the  establishment  of  a  Cabinet  Department  of 
Mines  and  Mining  as  a  part  of  the  system  of  national  government,  and, 

Resolved,  Further,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  to 
each  delegate  elected  to  the  leading  national  conventions  and  his  earnest 
support  of  the  same  be  solicited,  and  that  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
presented,  by  the  Secretary  of  this  Congress,  to  the  committee  on  resolu- 
tions of  each  leading  national  convention  held  in  1908. 


S2  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

Resolution    No.  5. 
(Introduced  by  Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley  of  Missouri.) 

Recognizing  the  fact  that  much  of  flotation  of  worthless  mining  stock 
by  unscrupulous  promoters  is  based  upon  the  reports  of  inexperienced  or 
fictitious  mining  engineers  and  geologists,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  there  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Mining 
Congress  a  committee  of  five,  consisting  of  two  geologists  and  three  min- 
ing engineers,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  investigate  and  place  on  file  with 
the  Secretary  of  the  Mining  Congress  a  record  of  the  training  and  experi- 
ence of  geologists  and  mining  engineers  practicing  in  America,  in  so  far 
as  such  records  can  be  obtained; 

Resolved,  Further,  That  the  professional  geologists  and  mining  engi- 
neers be  invited  to  furnish  such  committee  "with  a  statement  of  their 
training  and  experience; 

Resolved,  Further,  That  the  said  Secretary  of  the  Mining  Congress 
be  instructed  to  furnish  members  of  the  Mining  Congress  or  others  with 
a  copy  of  such  record  upon  application,  without  comment  or  comparison 
with  the  records  of  other  geologists  or  engineers. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  are  no  further  suggestions  we 
will  stand  adjourned  until  2  o'clock,  p.  m. 


TUESDAY,    NOVEMBER    12,    1907. 

Afternoon  Session. 

The  Congress  was  called  to  order  by  Col.  Geo.  W.   E.   Dorsey. 

Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley  of  Rolla,  Missouri,  then  delivered  an  address  on 
"Lead  and  Zinc  Mining  in  the  Ozark  Region." 

Dr.  Buckley's  paper  will  be  found  on  page  282  of  this  Report. 

Mr.  S.  Duffield  Mitchell  of  Carthage,  Missouri,  then  delivered  an 
address,  "Tariff  on  Zinc  Ores." 

Mr.  Mitchell's  paper  will  be  found  on  page  219  of  this  Report. 

CHAIRMAN  DORSEY:  It  being  too  late  for  any  discussion  on  this 
most  interesting  topic,  we  will  now  take  an  adjournment  until  8  o'clock 
this  evening,  when  we  will  hear  the  Annual  Address  by  our  President. 


TUESDAY,    NOVEMBER    12,    1907. 

Evening  Session. 

The  Congress  was  called  to  order  at  8  o'clock,  p.  m.,  by  Vice  President 
Dr.  EL  R.  Buckley. 

VICE  PRESIDENT  BUCKLEY:  It  has  been  customary,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  at  each  of  the  sessions  of  the  American  Mining  Congress, 
to  have  an  address  by  the  President  outlining  the  aims  and  purposes  and 
the  work  of  the  Congress,  to  review  the  past  work  of  the  Congress,  the 
work  which  has  been  accomplished,  and  to  look  into  the  future  and 
point  out  the  work  which  lies  before  the  Congress.  It  is  the  work  of  the 
President  of  this  Congress  to  direct  the  activities  of  this  body.  We  have 
found  in  the  past  that  the  annual  address  of  the  President  of  this  organ- 
ization has  been  most  helpful  to  the  members,  the  delegates  and  .the  vis- 
itors, and  to  the  Board  of  Directors.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  members  of 
the  American  Mining  Congress  and  delegates  to  the  American  Mining 
Congress,  I  have  great  pleasure  this  evening  in  introducing  to  you  Hon. 
J.  H.  Richards,  the  President  of  the  American  Mining  Congress. 

President  Richards'  address  will  be  found  on  Page  298  of  this  Report. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  33 

WEDNESDAY,    NOVEMBER    13,    1907. 

Morning  Session. 

The  Congress  was  called  to  order  by  President  Richards. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  It  was  suggested  to  me  that  I  did  not 
make  clear  one  point  that  I  attempted  to  express  last  evening  relative 
to  the  purpose  of  the  Mining  Congress  to  eventually  secure  a  Mining 
Department.  While  I  stated  that  the  President  said  that  he  would  recom- 
mend a  Bureau,  I  stated  to  him  that  that  was  satisfactory  because  it  was 
all  we  could  ask  for  at  this  time  as  a  foundation  for  a  Department.  That 
our  purpose  was  to  ultimately  get  a  Department.  I  think,  while  we  are 
waiting  for  several  to  come  in  I  will  call  attention  to  just  what  I  pre- 
sented to  Secretary  Garfield  when  I  met  him  in  Washington,  which  seemed 
to  him  to  justify  us  in  our  claim  to  the  right  to  a  Department.  It  is 
short;  I  will  read  it: 

How  the  Government  Can  Aid  the  Mining  Industry. 

(1)  By  the  granting  of  continued  and  larger  appropriations  for  the 
investigations    by   the   Geological    Survey,    so   that   the    results   may   be 
reached  rapidly  enough  to  more  nearly  meet  the  growing  needs  of  the 
country,  including: 

(a)  The  classification  of  the  public  lands; 

(b)  The  exploration,  surveying  and  mapping  of  the  geological  forma- 
tions, ore  bodies,  mineral  deposits,  etc.; 

(c)  The  investigations  of  the  nature,  extent  and  origin  of  these  de- 
posits and  of  the  origin  of  the  soils  of  the  country; 

(2)  By  the  establishment  at  this  time  of  a  Bureau  of  Mines,  with 
ample  authority  and  funds  for  the   investigation  of  and  inquiries  into: 

(a)  The  methods  and  processes  employed  in  the  mining  and  quarry- 
ing industries  and  in  the  handling  and  treatment  of  mineral  pro- 
ducts with  a  view  to  aiding  these  industries,  preventing  mine  and 
quarry  accidents,  and  recommending  appropriate  legislation; 

(b)  The  wise  utilization  and  conservation  of  our  mineral  resources 
through  the  prevention  of  waste,  the  development  of  more  efficient 
methods,  etc.; 

(c)  The  mining  conditions,  and  the  most  efficient  methods  for  the 
handling,  treating  and  using  of  ores  and  other  mineral  products 
in  foreign  countries,  with  a  view  to  benefiting  American  mining, 
quarrying  and  other  mineral  and  metallurgical  industries; 

(d)  The  publication,  in  such  form  as  to  be  readily  available,  of  the 
information  obtained  from  all  these  investigations  and  inquiries; 
the  wide  and  prompt  distribution  of  these  publications  among  the 
mining  men  of  the  country;  and  co-operation  of  impartial  govern- 
ment experts  in  this  educational  work  by  public  addresses  in  min- 
ing camps  and  at  the  meetings  of  men  associated  with  mining  and 
quarrying  industries — with  a  view  to  the  prevention  of  accidents, 
the  preventing  of  waste,  and  more  efficient  work. 

(3)  The  above  action  is  recommended  with  a  view  to  the  establish- 
ment from  time  to  time  of  other  allied  bureaus  and  ultimately 
the  establishment  of  a  Department  of  Mines  if  the  conditions  may 
warrant  such  action. 

(4)  By  revising  existing  legislation  relative  to   mineral   lands   and 
mining: 

(a)  To  provide  for  the  separation  of  surface  from  underground  own- 
ership, with  a  view  to  the  independent  development  of  the  mining 
and  of  the  agricultural  or  forest  industries; 

(b)  To  prevent  fraud  in  the  entry  and  patenting  of  mineral  lands; 
and 

(c)  To   facilitate  the   disposition   of  these  lands   by   lease,   sale   or 
otherwise,  under  such  conditions  as  will  best  facilitate  legitimate 
and  practical  mining. 


34  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

When  that  was  presented  to  Secretary  Garfield,  he  said  "I  think  you 
are  entitled  to  a  Bureau,"  and  he  is  with  us,  although  opposed  to  us  in 
the  first  instance.  Our  ambition  is  to  finally  get  a  Department  but  at 
this  time  we  must  be  satisfied  with  a  Bureau. 

DR.  BUCKLEY  OF  MISSOURI:  I  want  to  make  a  few  remarks  this 
morning.  In  the  first  place  I  wish  to  announce  that  before  the  close  of 
this  session  there  will  be  a  daily  program  issued  by  the  program  com 
mittee  giving  the  members  the  program  for  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
also  announcing  the  resolutions  to  be  considered  by  the  resolutions  com- 
mittee and  the  time  and  place  where  these  resolutions  will  be  submitted. 
Anyone  wishing  to  introduce  resolutions  please  take  note. 

I  wish  to  say  further  that  the  members  of  the  delegations  to  this 
Mining  Congress  will  find  that  there  is  a  less  percentage  of  fictitious  pro- 
motion being  carried  on  in  this  district  than  in  any  other  district  of  a 
similar  size  in  the  United  States.  (Applause.)  I  wish  to  say  also  that 
any  fictitious  promotion  which  is  being  carried  on  in  this  district  so  far 
as  I  know  has  not  emanated  from  anyone  who  may  reside  in  this  dis- 
trict or  operating  in  this  district,  but  by  men  who  live  in  the  eastern  or 
far  distant  cities  who  have  secured  holdings  of  uncertain  value  and  of 
which  they  have  uncertain  knowledge  and  which  they  are  trying  to  un- 
load on ''people  of  the  East  who  are  equally  ignorant.  I  make  this  state- 
ment because  I  believe  the  people  of  this  district  are  worthy  the  com- 
mendation and  respect  of  the  mining  sections  of  this  country. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  meeting  is  open  for  discussion  on 
any  subject  desired  to  be  discussed  by  anyone. 

JOHN  R.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  It  seems  to  me.  that  it  is  very  ap- 
propriate if  it  has  not  been  done  and  I  have  been  in  nearly  every  session 
so  far,  and  yet  away  a  little  of  the  time,  so  I  may  be  out  of  order  in  that 
regard.  If  it  has  not  been  done  I  would  think  it  very  proper  that  this 
session  or  the  Congress  should  send  a  message  to  our  President  at  Wash- 
ington, through  the  Secretary  of  this  Congress,  notifying  him  that  we  are 
in  session,  and  of  the  work  that  we  represent,  and  so  I  move  that  the 
Secretary  of  the  Congress  send  a  telegram  to  President  Roosevelt  in 
this  regard. 

The  motion  being  seconded  and  put  by  the  chair  was  unanimously 
carried,  and  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send  a  telegram  to  the  Presi- 
dent announcing  that  the  American  Mining  Congress  is  in  session  and 
expressing  the  appreciation  of  th-e  Congress  for  the  interest  he  has  taken 
in  its  purposes. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolution  the  following  telegram  was 
sent. 

Joplin,  Mo.,  Nov.  14,  1907. 
The  Honorable   Theodore   Roosevelt,    President    of    the    United    States, 

Washington.  D.  C.: 

The  American  Mining  Congress  in  Tenth  Annual  Session  assembled 
tenders  to  you  its  greetings  and  its  sincere  appreciation  and  commenda- 
tion; first,  for  your  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  wise  conservation  -md  intelli- 
gent use  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  this  country;  second,  for  your 
co-operation  in  the  work  of  this  organization  through  the  agency  of  tne 
United  States  Geological  Survey;  third,  for  your  promised  recommenda- 
tion for  Congressional  action,  looking  to  the  establishment  at  the  ap- 
proaching session  of  Congress  of  an  independent  Bureau  of  Mines  under 
the  Department  of  the  Interior,  which,  through  its  investigations,  inquiries 
and  recommendations,  will  begin  at  once  to  further  co-operate  with  the 
American  Mining  Congress  and  with  the  mining  interests  in  all  parts  of 
the  country  in  improving  the  increasingly  complex  and  difficult  conditions 
under  which  this  industry  is  now  being  conducted. 

J.  H.  RICHARDS, 

President. 
JAS.  F.  CALLBREATH, 

Secretary. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  35 

F.  WALLACE  WHITE  of  Ohio:  I  would  like  to  ask  the  chair  if 
the  members  of  this  Congress  have  been  advised  that  three  members  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  are  to  be  elected  at  this  session?  I  ask  if  they 
have  taken  into  consideration  or  thought  of  the  question  of  this  organiza- 
tion branching  out  into  a  national  movement  that  unquestionably  will 
need  the  support  of  men  in  the  East,  and  with  that  end  in  view,  whether 
it  might  not  be  expedient  to  increase  the  number  of  our  directors.  After 
correspondence  with  the  Secretary  I  was  advised  to  lay  the  matter  before 
you  and  I  would  like  to  get  information  from  the  chair  as  to  the  proper 
proceedings  necessary. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  organization  was  incorporated  un- 
der the  statutes  of  the  state  of  Colorado.  Nine  members  were  selected 
because  it  was  the  feeling  that  when  you  have  a  large  membership  little 
can  be  accomplished  in  a  public  meeting,  and  that  the  most  of  the  busi- 
ness would  be  transacted  by  the  directors.  I  am  not  entirely  familiar 
with  the  method  by  which  you  can  increase  a  Board  of  Directors  under 
the  statutes  of  Colorado,  but  I  presume  that  it  can  be  done.  It  is  usu- 
ally so  in  the  different  states.  The  Board  has  considered  the  question  of 
getting  men  to  work  with  us  from  the  East  especially  in  the  coal  mining 
regions,  and  that  is  one  of  the  purposes  I  suggested  last  night — we  are 
trying  to  travel' eastward  to  get  that  class  of  men  identified  with  us.  I 
have  undertaken  to  induce  the  board  to  select  some  eastern  man  in  my 
place,  but  they  have  not  done  so.  I  think  the  same  is  true  of  each  mem- 
ber on  the  board — they  would  be  glad  to  be  relieved  from  duty  and  would 
be  glad  to  encourage  a  change  along  those  lines. 

MR.  F.  WALLACE  WHITE  OF  OHIO :  The  thought  in  my  mind  was 
not  to  replace  the  President  at  all,  but  to  increase  the  Board  of  Directors, 
so  we  could  put  some  of  these  Eastern  men  on.  I  had  in  mind  some  of 
the  men  I  have  talked  with  who  might  be  induced  to  go  on  our  Board.  1 
only  wish  to  get  information  on  the  subject,  and  if  there  is  any  way  to 
revise  our  By-Laws  to  accomplish  this,  I  would  be  glad  if  it  could  be 
done. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  You  cannot  do  it  by  amending  the  By- 
Laws.  You  probably  have  to  file  an  application  -with  the  Secretary  of 
state  or  some  other  official,  if  the  rule  in  Colorado  is  the  same  as  in 
Idaho,  asking  for  permission  to,  increase. the  Board  of  Directors.  It  is 
purely  a  legal  matter.  The  articles  of  incorporation  fix  the  number  ot 
the  board. 

W.  P.  DANIELS  of  Colorado:  All  that  is  necessary  is  for  the  mem- 
bers, if  they  so  desire,  to  ask  that  the  articles  of  incorporation  be 
amended  increasing  the  Board  of  Directors. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  We  have  undertaken  to  so  organize  our 
Congress  that  the  membership  of  the  board  should  be  increased  as  the 
needs  required. 

MR.  DANIELS:  I  suppose  the  discussion  as  to  the  advisability  of 
increasing  the'  board  is  not  in  order  at  the  present  time.  That  would 
properly  come  before  the  members  themselves,  perhaps,  but  I  think 
it  would  be  extremely  well  if  the  members  who  think  of  advocating  an 
increase  in  the  membership  of  the  board  would  consider  that  the  larger 
the  body,  with  members  scattered  over  a  vast  territory  at  considerable 
distances  apart,  the  more  difficult  it  is  to  hold  meetings  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  to  transact  business  that  is  absolutely  necessary.  If  I  am  not 
mistaken,  there  has  already  been  some  difficulty  in  getting  a  quorum 
of  the  present  board  together  at  some  time  during  the  past,  and  it  seems 
to  me  that  it  is  a  question  that  should  be  carefully  considered,  and  that 
that  particular  thing  should  be  taken  into  consideration.  The  smaller 
the  body  is  as  a  general  rule,  the  more  direct  the  responsibility,  and 
the  more  attention  is  given  by  the  member  himself  in  fulfilling  his  re- 
sponsibilities, and  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  personally,  I  believe  it  would 
be  a  bad  move  at  this  time  at  least  to  take  any  steps  toward  increasing 
the  number  of  our  directors. 


36  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

H.  J.  CANTWEiLL  of  Missouri:  I  am  not  at  this  time  a  member  of 
the  corporation,  but  I  would  suggest  before  the  meeting  of  the  members 
that  the  Secretary  announce  the  terms  of  initiation  to  become  members 
so  that  those  who  are  not  now  members  may  become  such,  and  I  would 
suggest  further  in  this  connection  that  while  the  argument  is  a  very 
good  one  that  the  Board  of  Directors  should  be  limited  to  a  small  num- 
ber, yet  it  might  be  possible,  even  though  the  laws  of  Colorado  may  not 
provide  for  a  large  directory  to  accomplish  the  same  result  by  consti- 
tuting what  might  be  called  an  advisory  committtee  of  members  through 
which  the  Board  of  Directors  could  communicate  and  who  would  accom- 
plish all  of  the  benefit  of  increased  membership  in  the  directory.  My 
idea  being  to  have  a  standing  advisory  committee,  one  member  for  each 
state.  Not  being  a  member  I  have  no  right  to  make  a  move  in  that  di- 
rection but  only  advance  the  suggestion  for  what  it  is  worth. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  When  you  take  into  consideration  that 
it  costs  from  $300  to  $1,000  a  year  to  be  a  director,  to  pay  expenses 
to  attend  these  meetings  and  also  takes  considerable  valuable  time,  it  is 
not  always  easy  to  find  a  man  to  act  in  that  capacity.  It  takes  a  pretty 
generous  heart  to  do  the  work. 

Any  further  matters  you  wish  to  take  up? 

The  Secretary  will  make  a  statement,  as  suggested  by  the  gentle- 
man from  Missouri,  relative  to  the  membership  matter. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  The  laws  of  Colorado  permit  cor- 
porations for  pecuniary  profit  a  directorate  of  thirteen.  We  have  nine 
directors.  In  order  to  change  our  By-Laws  it  is  necessary  that  an  amend- 
ment be  submitted  in  writing  to  the  Secretary  of  the  organization  forty- 
five  days  before  an  annual  meeting  of  the  members.  The  Secretary  is  requir- 
ed by  the  by-laws  to  send  that  notice  to  each  member  of  the  Congress  thirty 
days  before  such  meeting.  It  is  necessary  to  follow  this  procedure  to 
bring  about  an  amendment  to  the  By-Laws.  It  is  possible  to  increase 
the  number  of  directors  to  thirteen  without  question.  There  is  some 
question  under  the  laws  of  Colorado  whether  a  directorate  shall  be  en- 
larged above  that  number.  The  law  speaks  of  organizations  for  pe- 
cuniary profit,  but  in  the  opinion  of  many  of  our  lawyers  it  does  not 
apply  to  organizations  like  this,  not  organized  for  pecuniary  profit. 

An  amendment  to  the  By-Laws  can  be  made  by  giving  notice  of  forty- 
five  days  before  any  annual  meeting  of  the  members. 

Any  person  interested  in  the  mining  business  may  become  a  member 
of  the  American  Mining  Congress  by  paying  an  admission  fee  of  $15  and 
annual  dues  of  $10.  An  application  for  membership  must  be  passed  on 
by  the  Membership  Committee,  and  after  being  accepted,  a  membership 
card  arid  certificate  of  membership  are  issued  to  the  member.  At  this 
point  I  desire  to  say  that  persons  who  have  become  members  but  have 
not  yet  received  membership  cards  will  please  call  my  attention  to  that 
fact  and  the  matter  will  be  attended  to.  The  qualifications  for  member- 
ship are,  first,  an  interest  in  the  mining  business,  and,  second,  a  willing- 
ness to  co-operate  with  us,  by  paying  dues  and  doing  such  work  as  may 
be  necessary  to  make  the  organization  a  success. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  One  thing  that  the  Secretary  omitted— a 
suggestion  that  came  from  Missouri,  through  Dr.  Buckley — that  we  have 
a  life  membership  in  which  the  fee  is  $100,  and  no  further  charge  after 
that,  and  that  Dr.  Buckley  was  the  first  life  member  of  this  organiza- 
tion. 

If  there  are  no  further  matters  you  desire  to  bring  up,  we  will  proceed 
with  our  program. 

We  will  now  have  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  an  address  which  I 
know  you  will  be  delighted  to  hear,  by  a  man  fully  qualified  to  speak 
on  his  subject.  He  is  working  under  the  federal  government.  As  I  un- 
derstand his  work  it  is  investigations  relating  to  the  precious  metals. 
His  subject  is,  "Will  the  Increase  of  Gold  in  the  World  Keep  Pace  With 
the  Increasing  Demands  of  Commerce  and  Trade?"  I  take  pleasure  in 
introducing  Dr.  Waldemar  Lindgren  .of  Washington. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  37 

Dr.  Lindgren's  address  will  be  found  on  page  265  of  this  Report. 
DR.  BUCKLEY  of  Missouri:  Mr.  President,  I  think  that  it  is  the  in- 
tention of  the  Program  Committee  that  these  papers  be  discussed.  Dr. 
Lindgren's  is  one  of  peculiar  interest  and  such  that  the  members  and 
delegates  should  have  an  opportunity  to  discuss.  If  there  are  any  ques- 
tions which  they  care  to  ask,  or  suggestions  which  they  care  to  make,  it 
might  be  a  good  idea  for  them  to  express  it  at  this  time.  I,  myself, 
would  like  to  ask  Dr.  Lindgren  a  question.  I  would  like  to  ask  Dr.  Lind- 
gren  if  he  believes  that  the  present  economic  conditions  respecting  labor 
and  other  matters  are  having  a  sufficient  influence  in  curtailing  the  out- 
put of  gold  in  the  world  to  give  any  substance  to  the  contention  or  the 
desire  on  the  part  of  the  Mining  Congress  that  the  United  States  govern- 
ment interest  itself  in  decreasing  by  means  of  experimental  stations  or 
otherwise  the  cost  of  production  of  gold.  I  wish  to  ask  what  he  thinks 
would  be  the  tendency  of  such  action  on  the  part  of  the  government. 

DR.  LINDGREN:  I  certainly  think  it  would  be  desirable  for  the 
government  to  investigate  the  processes  and  improve  the  processes  as 
far  as  possible-.  It  is  a  rather  new  departure,  of  course.  The  United 
States  government  has  not  undertaken,  as  a  rule,  investigation  into  min- 
ing production  processes,  but  the  subject  is  a  very  important  one,  and  I 
see  no  reason  why  they  should  not  from  a  scientific  standpoint. 

DR.  BUCKLEY:  You  think  that  the  possibilities  in  that  direction 
are  sufficient  to  warrant  such  investigation — the  possibilities  in  the  direc- 
tion of  reducing  the  cost  of  production. 

DR.  LINDGREN:  I  think  it  certainly  will  be  necessary  to  do  some- 
thing in  that  line,  and,  as  I  said,  I  think  that  the  government  would  be 
justified  in  examining  into  those  subjects.  At  the  present  time  we  have 
no  such  experimental  stations. 

FRANK  E:.  WIRE  OF  ILLINOIS:  I  would  like  to  ask  the  Speaker 
what  is  his  estimate  of  the  proportion  of  the  gold  produced  last  year  and 
year  before  and  this  year  that  goes  into  the  arts  and  sciences? 

DR.  LINDGREN:'  Of  the  $400,000,000  produced  there  annually  goes 
into  the  arts  and  sciences  about  from  $90,000,000  to  $100,000,000;  that  is 
to  say,  about  one-fourth. 

MR.  WIRE:  Is  the  amount  of  gold  that  is  going  into  the  arts  and 
sciences  on  the  increase  or  decrease? 

DR.  LINDGREN:  Decidedly  on  the  increase.  A  few  years  ago  it 
was  $70,000,000  or  $80,000,000.  The  world  is  now  spending  from  $90,000,000 
to  $100,000,000  a  year  for  rings  and  nick-nacks  and  things  of  that  kind. 

HORACE  V.  WINCHELL:  I  am  not  clear  in  my  own  mind  as  to 
the  answer  to  the  question  "Will  the  Production  of  Gold  in  the  World 
Keep  Pace  With  the  Increasing  Demands  of  Commerce  and  Trade?" 
I  understand  that  Dr.  Lindgren  informed  us  that  about  fifteen  years  ago 
the  world's  production  of  gold  was  $115,000,000  or  $119,000,000.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  over  $400,000,000.  I  should  like  to  inquire  whether  it 
is  a  fact  that  the  world's  commerce  and  trade  has  increased  in  that  pro- 
portion, and  if  it  has  not,  whether  a  constant  production  at  the  present 
rate  will  be  sufficient  to  keep  pace  with  increasing  commerce  and  trade, 
and  whether  the  gold  production  must  also  increase  beyond  what  it  is 
at  present. 

DR.  LINDGREIN:  I  would  not  be  able  to  answer  the  question  defin- 
itely as  to  whether  the  demand  of  trade  has  increased  in  the  same  pro- 
portion. It  certainly  has  increased  vastly — probably  not  fully  in  the 
same  proportion,  although  I  have  not  the  figures  at  hand  to  support  my 
position  conclusively.  As  to  what  it  will  do  in  the  future,  I  have  just 
tried  to  explain  that  it  involves  questions  which  are  so  difficult  that  I  am 
very  doubtful  about  the  wisdom  of  committing  one's  self  with  definite 
statements  about  it.  I  have  simply  tried  to  give  you  the  conditions  at 
present,  but  what  next  year's  conditions  will  be,  I  would  be  glad  to  tell 
you,  but  I  cannot. 

MR.  WINCHELL:  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  production  at  the  present 
rate  is  adding  so  rapidly  to  the  world's  supply  of  gold  that  in  a  few  years 


38  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

the  total  amount  of  gold  in  the  world  is  likely  to  be  excessive — is  likely 
to  exceed  the  actual  demand  in  proportion  to  its  consumption  for  the 
past  one  hundred  years  in  commerce  and  trade.? 

DR.  LINDGREN:  I  do  not  think  so.  I  think,  of  course,  an  excess- 
ive increase  at  this  present  time  in  one  year  or  two  years  might  work 
serious  disturbances,  but  I  do  not  think  the  increase  at  the  rate  of  the 
last  fifteen  years— which  has  been  about  $20,000,000  a  year— would  be 
out  of  proportion.  That  is  to  say,  I  think  the  world's  commerce  is  amply 
able  to  take  care  of  this  increase. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  We  will  now  have  the  pleasure  of  listen- 
ing to  Dr.  E.  W.  Parker  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  who  has  always  been  an 
earnest  worker  in  this  Congress  for  many  years.  His  subject  is  "How 
Long  Will  the  Supply  of  Coal  Meet  the  Increasing  Demands  of  Com- 
merce and  Trade?" 

Dr.  Parker's  address  will  be  found  on  page  239  of  this  Report. 

An  adjournment  was  taken  until  2  p.  m. 


WEDNESDAY,    NOVEMBER    13,    1907. 

Afternoon  Session. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     The  Congress  will  be  in  order. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  report  of  committee  appointed  to  draft 
a  side  line  law  to  be  presented  to  the  Federal  Congress,  of  which  -Mr. 
James  D.  Hague  of  New  York  City  is  chairman,  Mr.  Hague  not  being 
present,  as  follows: 

18  Wall  Street,  November  8,  1907. 
James  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Esquire, 

Secretary  The  American  Mining  Congress,  Denver,  Colorado. 

Dear  Sir:  Since  writing  you  recently  I  have  received  further  com- 
munications from  certain  members  of  the  Vertical  Side  Line  Law  Com- 
mittee and  other  committees  concerned  in  the  revision  of  mining  law, 
from  which  it  is  evident  that  the  first-named  committee  can  do  nothing 
more  at  present  than  to  report  progress,  as  proposed  in  my  letter  to  you 
dated  October  24th,  with  the  suggestion  that  the  American  Mining  Con- 
gress, at  its  Joplin  meeting,  continue  the  said  committee  with  authority 
and  instructions  to  act  as  indicated  in  the  above  cited  letter,  co-operating, 
so  far  as  practicable,  with  the  Douglas  Committee  (appointed  by  the  Pub- 
lic Lands  Commission),  and  seeking  to  effect  through  that  committee  the 
desired  introduction  to  the  Federal  Congress  of  a  law  abolishing  all  extra- 
lateral  rights  in  patents  to  be  granted  by  the  United  States  after  some 
fixed  date,  without  affecting  in  any  way  any  previously  existing  interests 
or  vested  rights.  Very  truly  yours, 

JAMES  D.  HAGUE. 

P.  S!. — I  shall  be  unable  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Congress  at 
Joplin. 

MR.  DORSET  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  move  that  the  committee  of  which 
Mr.  Hague  is  chairman  be  continued  until  the  session  of  1908. 

Which  motion,  after  being  dluly  seconded,  was  put  and  unanimously 
carried. 

The   Secretary  then  read   resolutions  as  follows:    ' 

Resolution  No  6. 

(Introduced  by  W.  D.  Sidell,  of  Bartlesville,  I.  T.) 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  November  9,  1907. 
American  Mining  Congress,  Joplin,  Missouri. 

Gentlemen:  Our  body  has  been  informed  that  Congressman  George 
A.  Bartlett,  of  Nevada,  has  in  course  of  preparation  for  introduction  on 
the  opening  day  of  Congress,  December  2,  1907,  a  bill  which  is  of  peculiar 
interest  to  all  mining  men  throughout  the  country.  It  provides  for  the 
suspension,  during  1907,  of  the  Federal  statute  which  requires  that  at  least 
$100.00  worth  of  work  shall  be  done  yearly  upon  each  claim  in  order  for 
the  present  owner  to  retain  title  thereto. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  39 

As  a  result  of  the  present  financial  depression,  the  mining  sections 
are  in  a  very  unfortunate  condition.  In  fact,  there  is  no  section  of  the 
country  which  has  felt  this  strain  more  acutely  than  the  mining  section, 
unless  it  be  the  center  of  the  speculating  world,  known  to  us  as  Wall 
street.  It  is  necessary  for  mining  men  to  obtain  more  or  less  of  their 
working  capital  from  the  outside,  and  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  all 
of  the  money  centers  are  now  on  a  clearing  house  certificate  basis,  it  is 
next  to  impossible  to  obtain  the  necessary  funds  to  carry  on  this  work. 

In  addition  to  the  above  reasons,  there  can  be  found  a  precedent  for 
the  proposed  action  of  Congress,  in  the  fact  that  a  measure  with  similar 
provisions  became  a  law  during  the  panic  year  of  1893.  Unless  this  relief 
can  be  obtained  from  the  National  Congress  there  are  a  great  many  men 
who  are  making  honest  efforts  to  live  up  to  the  requirements  of  the  Fed- 
eral mining  statute  by  developing  the  mineral  resources  of  the  country, 
who  will  lose  all  of  their  rights  because  of  their  inability  to  do  the  work 
themselves,  or  obtain  the  money  to  hire  others. 

In  this  way  a  fine  opening  will  be  made  for  a  set  of  unscrupulous 
and  scheming  persons  who  are  known  as  "jumpers"  and  whose  business 
it  is  simply  to  wait  for  the  expiration  of  the  time  limit  and  then  rob  the 
honest  operator  of  his  property.  There  is  a  practice  among  this  class 
of  citizens  to  keep  a  close  watch  upon  property  which  is  likely  to  lapse, 
and  who  will  then  take  possession  under  a  location  notice,  which  gives 
them  ninety  days  in  which  to  perform  a  very  small  amount  of  work. 
Then  at  the  end  of  this  ninety  days,  unless  they  have  been  successful  in 
selling  out,  they  re-locate,  thus  gaining  another  ninety  days.  These  never 
intend  to  mine  in  reality,  but  are  simply  the  rankest*  kind  of  speculators, 
who  live  by  their  wits. 

We  sincerely  hope  that  you  can  see  your  way  clear  to  pass  a  resolu- 
tion by  your  body  endorsing  the  suspension  of  the  assessment  work  as 
stated  in  this  letter. 

We  feel  sure  that  you  appreciate  the  importance  of  such  legislation, 
as  it  effects  a  great  number  of  mining  men  and  therefore  have  no  hesi- 
tancy in  asking  you  to  take  an  especial  interest  in  the  proposed  measure. 

Thanking  you  in  advance  for  what  you  will  no  doubt  be  glad  to  do, 
we  are,  with  great  respect,  Yours  truly, 

LOS  ANGELES-NEVADA  MINING  STOCK  EXCHANGE. 
ByM.  J.  MONNETTE,  Pres. 
ByF.  IRVIN  HERRON,  Sec. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  move  that  the  letter  just  read 
be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  There  being  no  objections  it  will  be  so 
referred. 

The  Secretary  then  read  resolution  No.  6,  introduced  by  W.  D.  Sidell, 
of  Bartlesville,  I.  T.,  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  we  deplore  the  unfavorable  conditions  brought  about 
in  that  portion  of  the  mid-continent  oil  and  gas  field  lying  within  Indian 
Territory,  by  the  recent  rulings  and  regulations  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior,  resulting  practically  in  a  suspension  of  operations,  and  resulting 
in  incalculable  loss  and  damage  to  the  operators;  that  we  extend  our 
sympathy  to  the  oil  and  gas  operators  in  Indian  Territory,  and  tender  our 
co-operation  in  their  efforts  to  have  more  equitable  and  salutary  regula- 
tions adopted;  that  we  urge  upon  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  the  neces- 
sity of  a  speedy  and  radical  change  in  existing  regulations  governing  the 
leasing  and  operation  of  oil  and  gas  lands  in  the  Indian  Territory;  and 
particularly  do  we  urge  upon  him  the  fairness  and  justice  of  the  demands 
of  such  operators  for  the  rescinding  of  the  ruling  of  October  14,  1907, 
whereby  the  royalty  to  be  paid  the  lessors  may  be  arbitrarily  increased 
beyond  that  named  in  the  leases,  and  whereby  the  operators  and  lessees 
are  required  to  divide  their  net  profits  with  the  lessor;  that  we  believe 
these  terms  are  not  only  unprecedented  and  unjust,  but  that  they  must 
necessarily  result  in  permanent  loss  and  detriment  not  only  to  the 
operator,  but  also  to  the  Indian  lessors;  and,  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  as  a  means  of  permanent  relief  to  the  oil  and  gas 
operators  in  Indian  Territory,  we  would  impress  upon  Congress  and  the 


40  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

President  the  necessity  of  the  removal  of  all  restrictions  upon  allotments 
of  the  members  of  the  Indian  tribes  therein,  except  such  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  proper  protection  of  the  interests  of  full  bloods  and 
minors;  and,  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  furnished  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  this  Congress  to  the  members  of  the  United  States  Congress  and 
the  United  States  Senate,  and  that  they  be  asked  to  use  their  influence 
in  securing  the  relief  herein  mentioned. 

Resolution  No.  7. 
(Introduced  by  Dr.  Victor  C.  Alderson,  of  Colorado.) 

Whereas,  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  mining  profession  is  a 
most  important  element  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  mining  industry  and  the 
placing  of  it  upon  a  substantial  and  economic  basis,  and 

Whereas,  The  National  Association  of  State  Mining  Schools  has  been 
energetic  in  urging  legislation  in  behalf  of  mining  education,  and 

Whereas,  The  interests  of  the  National  Association  of  State  Mining 
Schools  and  the  American  Mining  Congress  are  in  many  ways  identical, 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Association  of  State  Mining  Schools  is 
hereby  invited  heartily  to  co-operate  with  the  American  Mining  Congress 
in  the  securing  of  its  objects,  and  particularly  in  its  efforts  to  secure  a 
Department  of  Mines  and  Mining. 

Resolution  No.  8. 
(Introduced  by  Mr.  John  Dern,  of  Utah.) 

Whereas,  Pending  the  building  and  equipment  of  a  suitable  mining 
temple  at  the  headquarters  of  this  Congress,  it  appears  wise  to  make  use 
of  a  mining  and  metallurgical  laboratory  already  equipped  at  some  central 
point  in  the  West;  and 

Whereas,  The  University  of  Utah,  through  its  duly  authorized  repre- 
sentatives, has  tendered  to  this  Congress  the  privilege  of  using  the  mining 
and  metallurgical  laboratories  at  its  School  of  Mines,  making  no  charge 
therefor,  except  such  as  will  cover  actual  expenditures  in  conducting 
tests;  and 

Whereas,  It  appears  that  the  laboratories  at  said  Utah  School  of  Mines 
are  amply  equipped  for  all  necessary  and  practical  tests  in  connection 
with  concentrating,  leaching,  furnace  work  and  other  methods  of  testing 
ores;  and 

Whereas,  Said  Utah  School  of  Mines,  located  at  Salt  Lake  City,  is  in 
the  heart  of  a  region  where  metallurgy  on  a  commercial  scale  presents 
a  greater  variety  of  practice  and  is  conducted  on  a  larger  scale  than  in 
any  other  center  of  the  West;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Mining  Congress  does  accept  the  offer 
so  tendered  by  the  University  of  Utah,  and  that  said  laboratories  shall 
hereafter  be  the  official  experiment  station  of  this  Congress. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  think  perhaps  this  would  be  a  proper 
time  to  ask  the  Secretary  to  read  to  you  the  letter  addressed  to  me  as 
President  of  this  Congress  by  Secretary  of  the  Interior  Garfield  in  relation 
to  a  Bureau  of  Mines. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  letter  as  follows: 

Secretary's  Office,  Department  of  the  Interior,  ( 
Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  9,  1907.      \ 
Judge  J.  H.  Richards,  President  American  Mining  Congress,  Joplin,  Mo.: 

My  Dear  Sir — I  have  been  greatly  interested  by  your  presentation 
of  the  needs  of  the  mining  industry  of  our  country,  and  I  am  in  hearty 
sympathy  with  your  desire  to  have  the  national  government  do  much  more 
for  this  industry,  which  is  one  of  the  most  important  in  our  commercial 
development. 

The  Interior  Department  has  been  dealing  with  some  phases  of  the 
problems  which  you  present.  I  am  convinced  that  it  has  not  done  as 
much  as  it  should  do  and  that  there  is  now  the  opportunity  for  greatly 
increasing  not  only  the  work  but  its  effectiveness  as  well.  The  classifi- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  41 

cation  of  the  public  lands;  the  exploring,  surveying  and  mapping  of  the 
geological  formations  and  mineral  deposits;  the  investigation  of  the  na- 
ture and  extent  of  these  deposits;  the  testing  of  fuels  and  building  ma- 
terials, the  publication  of  information,  are  all  subjects  with  which  the 
Department,  through  the  Geological  Survey,  deals.  It  is  my  earnest  hope 
that  Congress  will  so  largely  increase  the  appropriation  available  for  these 
purposes  that  I  can  immediately  increase  the  volume  and  scope  of  the 
work  to  meet  the  pressing  and  proper  demands  of  legitimate  mining. 

I  do  not  mean  to  limit  my  co-operation  with  your  work  to  the  agencies 
now  in  existence  in  the  Department.  Whatever  is  shown  to  be  necessary 
and  possible  of  attainment  will  receive  my  hearty  support.  If  a  special 
bureau  be  required  to  more  successfully  work  out  mining  problems,  it 
should  of  course  be  established. 

The  American  Mining  Congress  can  supply  much  information  to  the 
Congress  in  relation  to  whatever  proposition  may  be  presented,  either  in 
the  way  of  additional  appropriation  or  the  organization  of  an  additional 
bureau  should  one  be  thought  advisable.  I  beg  to  suggest  in  this  connec- 
tion that  this  information  be  presented  at  the  earliest  moment,  to  tne 
end  that  it  may  be  available  during  the  early  days  of  the  next  session 
of  Congress. 

I  trust  I  will  be  given  the  opportunity  to  confer  with  such  committee 
as  you  may  appoint  to  consider  proposed  legislation.  If  federal  legislation 
can  be  suggested  which  will  prevent  much  of  the  fraud  that  has  been 
perpetrated  upon  the  public  through  improper  mining  schemes,  Congress 
should  be  urged  to  act.  This  matter,  I  am  advised,  has  already  been 
taken  up  effectively  in  some  of  the  states.  In  so  far  as  possible  under 
the  constitution,  such  state  legislation  should  be  supplemented  by  federal 
legislation,  applicable  to  the  greater  mining  corporations  engaged  in  in- 
terstate commerce. 

I  trust  that  your  committees  will  consider  most  carefully  the  prob- 
lem of  conserving  and  using  what  is  left  of  our  coal  supply.  The  coal 
land  laws  need  immediate  and  radical  change,  to  the  end  that  the  grow- 
ing needs  of  the  people  should  be  met  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  remain- 
ing coal  supply  should  not  be  wasted  nor  be  monopolized  by  private  in- 
terests. 

I  regref  I  cannot  be  present  at  the  meeting  of  your  Congress.  Mr. 
Smith,  director  of  the  Survey,  and  Mr.  Holmes,  the  head  of  its  technologic 
branch,  will,  however,  be  there  for  the  Department  and  present  in  detail 
its  work.  Assuring  you  of  my  appreciation  of  the  invitation,  I  am, 
Very  truly  yours,  JAMES  RUDOLPH  GARFIELD, 

Secretary. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection  I  will  refer  that 
letter  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  to  see  if  there  is  any  action  neces- 
sary to  be  taken  upon  a  careful  consideration  of  it. 

We  now  have  something  that  I  know  will  interest  you  as  the  next 
on  the  program,  and  that  is  an  address  by  Mr.  E.  G.  Acheson,  of  Niagara 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  on  the  "Deflocculation  of  Non-Metalic  Amorphous  Bodies." 
Mr.  Acheson  is  the  discoverer  of  the  process  for  making  carborundum, 
the  hardest  known  abrasive,  and  of  which  over  8,000,000  pounds  are  made 
annually  in  the  electrical  furnaces  of  Niagara  Falls.  He  also  discovered 
the  process  for  siloxicon,  a  material  used  for  refractory  purposes.  He 
has  also  given  to  the  world  a  process  for  making  artificial  or  manufactured 
graphite,  of  which  product  many  tons  are  now  made  annually  by  elec- 
tric furnace  process  and  operation  in  Niagara  Falls.  His  latest  invention 
is  "Deflocculated  Graphite." 

Mr.  Acheson's  address  will  be  found  on  page  256  of  this  Report. 

MR.  F.  WALLACE  WHITE,  OF  OHIO:  It  seems  to  me  that  having 
listened  to  this  scientific  as  well  as  practical  illustration,  I  think  we  ought 
to  thank  Mr.  Acheson. 

I  move  that  we  extend  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  gentleman  who  has  so 
nicely  entertained  us  during  the  last  hour. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  unanimously  carried. 


42  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

The  Secretary  then  read  resolution  No.  9,  introduced  by  Maj.  F.  C. 
Vincent,  of  Missouri: 

Resolution   No.  9. 

Whereas,  The  promiscous  exploitation  of  illegetimate  and  fraudulent 
mining  schemes  throughout  the  United  S'tates,  Canada  and  Europe,  espe- 
cially during  the  past  year,  by  unscrupulous  so-called  promoters  has  re- 
sulted in  the  wholesale  defrauding  of  the  general  public,  and  especially 
the  small  investor,  and 

Whereas,  The  above  unlawful  acts  still  obtain  and  continue  unabated, 
and 

Whereas,  No  other  condition  has  so  tended  to  discredit  the  fair  name 
of  the  American  Mining  Industry  throughout  the  world,  and 

Whereas,  The  public  press  has  been  the  chief  instrument  used  by 
the  said  dishonest  promoters  in  their  predatory  efforts,  now,  therefore, 
be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  American  Mining  Congress  in  annual  convention  as- 
sembled, that  the  attention  of  the  Department  of  Justice  of  the  United 
States  and  the  various  Attorney  Generals  of  several  states  of  the  Union 
be  favorably  called  to  these  flagrant  violations  of  the  laws  of  the  states 
and  the  United  States  and  that  immediate  action  be  taken  under  the  law 
to  prevent  further  swindling  operations  as  herein  outlined ;  that  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  body  that  such  unlawful  acts  are  in  fact  violations  of  the 
statutes  to  prevent  "obtaining  money  by  false  pretense"  and  "general 
swindling,"  and  that  the  public  press  of  the  country  are  herewith  earnestly 
urged  to  assist  this  body  by  refusing  further  to  lend  its  aid  to  this  par- 
ticular kind  of  wholesale  and  organized  robbery. 

MR.  RICHARDS:  We  will  now  have  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  an 
address  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Holmes,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  on  "The  Waste  of  the 
Nation's  Mineral  Resources." 

Dr.  Holmes'  address  will  be  found  on  page  273  of  this  Report. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  We  now  have  on  the  program  the  report 
of  the  committee  that  was  appointed  to  investigate  the  question  of 
"Smelter  Rates"  and  the  controversy  between  the  ore  producers  and  the 
smelters. 

MR.  H.  S.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  In  view  of  the  fact  that  most  of 
the  delegates  have  been  burdened  with  a  great  deal  of  work  to-day  and 
that  this  is  a  matter  of  very  vital  importance  to  every  ore  producer,  not 
only  locally  but  in  the  whole  United  States,  I  move  you  that  the  reading 
of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Smelter  Rates  and  the  consideration 
thereof  be  made  a  special  order  for  to-morrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  carried  unanimously. 

An  adjournment  was  thereupon  taken  until  eight  o'clock  p.  m. 


MINUTES  OF  ANNUAL   MEETING   OF   MEMBERS. 


Held  at  Joplin,  Mo.,  November  13th,  1907,  8  O'clock   P.  M. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     The  annual  meeting  of  members  will  be 
in  order. 

The  Secretary  then  read  his  annual  report,  as  follows: 

\ 

Financial  Statement  of  Secretary  for  Period  October  1,  1906,  to  November 

1,  1907. 

Receipts. 

Cash  on  hand,  October  1,  1906 $  147.79 

Received  from  life  memberships '....- 1,500.00 

Received  from  annual  memberships ' .  .  2,675.00 

Received  from  annual  dues 2,990.00 

Received  from  contributions 3,990.00 

Received  from  Information  Department 45.50 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  43 

Received  from  exchange 8.80 

Received  refund  Cripple  Creek  trip 72.25 

Received  refund  representatives'  traveling  expense 5.25 


Total  receipts $11,434.59 

Disbursements. 

(Covered  by  Vouchers  Nos.  168  to  395%,  inclusive,  excepting  Nos.  368  to 

393  not  used.) 

Secretary's  salary •. $  3,600.00 

Stenographers'  salaries 1,452.40 

Organizers'  salaries 625.00 

Furniture  and  fixtures 6.50 

Office  expense  .". 311.69 

Printing  and  stationery ' 2,118.44 

Postage 430.00 

Secretary's  traveling  expenses 128.50 

Representatives'  traveling  expenses 1,540.90 

Miscellaneous  expense,  exchanges,  etc. 1,028.04 

Total  disbursements $11,241.47 

Total  receipts '. $11,434.59 

Total  disbursements 11,241.47 


Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1907 .* $      193.12 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JAS.  F.  CALLBREATH,  JR., 

Secretary. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  I  desire  to  state  in  connection  with 
this  report  that  all  disbursements  are  represented  by  vouchers,  the  bills 
being  first  audited  by  the  Auditing  Committee  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Directors.  The  Auditing  Committee  has  also  prepared  their  report,  which 
I  will  read  as  follows: 

Denver,  Colorado,  Nov.  1,  1907. 

We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  Auditing  Committee  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress  beg  to  report  that  the  books  of  the  Secretary 
show  as  follows: 

Cash  on  hand  last  report $  147.79 

Receipts  as  follows: 

Life  memberships  1,500.00 

Annual  memberships  2,675.00 

Annual  dues 2,990.00 

Contributions    .' 3,990.00 

Information  Department 45.50 

Exchange 8.80 

Refund  Cripple  Creek  trip 72.25 

Refund  representatives'  traveling  expense 5.25 


Total  receipts $11,434.59 

Disbursements. 

(Covered  by  Vouchers  Nos.  168  to  395%,  inclusive,  excepting  Nos.  368  to 

393  not  used.) 

Secretary's  salary $  3,600.00 

Stenographers'  salaries 1,452.40 

Organizers'  salaries   625.00 

Furniture  and  fixtures 

Office  expense 311.69 

Printing  and  stationery- 2,118.44 

Postage 430.00 

Secretary's  traveling  expenses 128.50 


44  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

Representatives'  traveling  expenses. .' 1,540.90 

Miscellaneous  expense,  exchanges,  etc 1,028.04 


Total  disbursements $11,241.47 


Total  receipts $11,434.59 

Total  disbursements 11,241.47 


Balance  on  hand  November  1,  1907 $        193.12 

(Signed)     E.  L.  WHITE, 
/  E.  J.  REINERT, 

Members  Auditing  Committee. 

It  was  thereupon  duly  moved  and  seconded  that  the  Secretary's  re- 
port and  the  Auditing  Committee's  report  be  approved  and  placed  on  file. 
Said  motion  being  duly  seconded,  put  and  carried,  it  was  so  ordered. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  next  in  order,  unless  you  have  some 
other  matters  to  bring  up  at  this  time,  is  the  selection  of  the  committee 
on  nominations.  I  will  request  the  Secretary  to  read  Section  3  of  Article 
VI.  of  the  by-laws. 

The  Secretary  then  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  3.  For  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  selection  of  directors, 
there  shall  be  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  members,  a  committee 
of  five  members  to  be  known  as  a  nominating  committee,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  present  to  the  members  for  their  consideration  the  names 
of  such  persons  as  such  committee  may  deem  advisable  to  act  as  Direc- 
tors for  the  ensuing  year. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  reason  of  that  by-law  is  this  that 
while  we  want  the  members  to  control  the  selection  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors, it  is  advisable  always  to  find  some  man  who  is  willing  and  will 
agree  in  advance  that  he  will  attend  the  sessions  of  the  board  when  pos- 
sible so  that  we  may  know  that  we  are  going  to  have  an  active  board  of 
directors,  so  that  the  purpose  of  the  selection  of  this  committee  is  to 
find  out  this  man  who  will  agree  to  serve  if  elected.  It  is  for  you  to 
elect  that  nominating  committee  and  for  that  committee  to  find  out  and 
recommend  those  men  who  will  agree  to  serve  from  whom  you  will  select 
your  directors. 

THOMAS  HOWELL,  OF  COLORADO:  Colorado  nominates  as  mem- 
ber of  that  committee  R.  L.  Martin  of  Denver. 

C.  B.  BELL,  OF  ARIZONA:     Arizona  nominates  Mr.  Thomas  Ewing. 

COLONEL  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  nominate  Mr.  H.  S.  Josephs 
of  Utah. 

MR.  H.  S.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  take  pleasure  in  nominating  Colonel 
H.  H.  Gregg  of  Missouri. 

MR.  WHITE,  OF  OHIO:  I  take  pleasure  in  nominating  Mr.  C.  T. 
Hutchinson  of  California. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  nominations  be  declared  closed. 
Motion  carried.  It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  Secretary  be  author- 
ized to  cast  the  ballot  of  the  organization  for  the  five  members  named. 

Which  motion  was  put  and  carried,  and  ballot  was  cast  in  accordance 
with  resolution, 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  That  committee  will  immediately  retire 
and  organize  and  report  as  early  as  possible. 

MAJOR  F.  C.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  Mr.  President,  I  would 
like  to  ask  what  steps  are  being  taken  to  increase  the  membership  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress.  I  am  a  new  member,  Mr.  President,  and  I 
rise  to  ask  this  for  reasons  that  are  to  me  vital.  I  am  much  interested 
in  the  work  of  the  American  Mining  Congress.  It  has  been  my  policy 
in  the  past  whenever  I  have  been  affiliated  with  a  body  of  this  character 
to  do  my  level  best  to  make  the  work  a  success.  It  seems  to  me  there 
never  was  a  grander  opportunity  before  the  American  Mining  Congress 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  45 

than  the  one  that  presents  itself  at  this  time.  Some  resolutions  have 
been  presented  by  myself  at  the  suggestion  of  myself  and  friends  of  Kan- 
sas City  which  I  do  not  wish  to  urge  at  this  time  but  which  will  come 
before  this  body  later  on,  but  it  has  occurred  to  me,  as  I  have  stated,  that 
there  never  was  a  grander  opportunity  than  that  which  presents  itself 
to  this  body.  The  prospects  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  are  splen- 
did and  I  feel  that  the  time  is  now  opportune  and  I  hear  it  discussed  on 
every  hand  by  the  mining  men  that  the  need  of  this  great  body  of  men 
interested  in  mining  and  the  welfare  of  mining  interests  in  every  phase 
was  never  more  felt  than  it  is  today.  That  is  the  reason  I  ask,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, what  the  Congress  is  doing  to  increase  its  membership. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  Under  the  old  system  the  money  for 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  Congress  was  provided  by  the  locality  where 
the  Congress  held  its  session,  but  the  system  was  unsatisfactory  because 
it  was  almost  entirely  given  to  entertainment.  And  I  want  to  say  as  I 
find  out  from  the  miners  of  this  Congress  that  it  is  not  entertainment  they 
want  so  much  as  to  do  business  and  to  feel  that  localities  interested  are 
in  sympathy  with  them.  And  therefore  they  took  occasion  to  establish 
this  body  on  the  membership  basis.  We  decided  upon  an  initiation  fee  of 
$15  and  $10  annual  dues.  Under  our  present  membership  it  brings  us 
now  about  $5,000.  We  scarcely  have  enough  to  meet  the  legitimate  ex- 
penses of  the  Congress  and  we  hope  the  time  will  come  when  the  mining 
men  will  become  so  deeply  concerned  that  we  will  have  a  membership 
large  enough  to  pay  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  Congress.  We  are  just 
now  in  a  formative  condition,  trying  to  get  members  who  will  pay  their 
annual  dues  and  help  us  in  this  work.  That  is  the  dignified  way  to  do 
it.  Then  when  we  go  to  hold  our  sessions  at  any  point,  we  won't  ask 
for  anything  but  pay  our  own  expenses — simply  ask  them  to  give  us  a 
hall  where  we  can  meet.,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  reach  that  point 
yet.  Therefore  before  we  get  a  large  membership  it  is  necessary  for  the 
locality  in  which  we  hold  these  meetings  to  contribute  as  Joplin  did, 
toward  these  expenses,  but  we  are  trying  to  get  the  communities  where 
we  go  not  to  expend  money  so  much  for  entertainment — yet  these  affairs 
of  the  kindly  greetings  that  you  give  us  here  are  more  than  money  to 
this  Congress.  But  we  would  like  to  be  able  to  support  it  by  membership 
dues.  It  takes  not  less  than  $11,000  to  meet  the  ordinary  expenses  of  this 
Congress.  So  far  they  have  always  been  met  and  I  hope  the  time  will 
come  when  the  miners  will  have  enough  interest  in  this  association  to 
join  us  and  furnish  a  dignified  way  of  supporting  this  institution. 

M'R.  JOSEPH  OF  MISSOURI:  I  would  very  much  like  the  chair  to  ex- 
plain as  to  the  qualification  of  any  one  voting  upon  the  place  for  the 
holding  of  the  next  Congress.  It  appears  that  some  have  the  Idea  that 
only  accredited  delegates  can  vote.  Others  have  the  idea  that  only  mem- 
bers themselves  who  have  paid  their  regular  dues  can  vote.  I  would  be 
much  obliged  if  the  chair  would  explain  this  for  the  benefit  of  those 
who  are  in  doubt. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  Under  our  system  a  delegate  has  all  the 
rights  during  a  session  of  the  Congress  that  a  member  has  except  the 
right  to  vote  for  directors  and  that  belongs  to  the  membership  only, 
but  as  to  the  question  of  determining  where  the  next  session  shall  be 
held,  the  delegate  has  the  same  right  that  a  member  has.  We  desire 
their  advice  upon  the  matter  and  the  board  of  directors  has  always 
followed  the  suggestion  of  the  delegates  and  members  on  that  question. 
It  is  very  desirable  to  have  you  advise  us,  but  you  can  readily  understand 
that  it  was  necessary  to  have  the  power  lodged  somewhere  that  in  the 
event  something  had  transpired,  after  you  had  advised  where  you  wanted 
the  next  session,  that  would  make  it  almost  impossible  and  inadequate 
for  the  Congress  to  meet  there.  We  had  to  lodge  the  power  somewhere 
to  change  that  place  of  meeting — to  make  that  change  is  necessary.  The 
directors  will  follow  your  advice  wherever  possible.  A  delegate  has  the 
same  right  as  a  member  to  vote  on  that  question: 

I  have  been  asked  concerning  life  memberships.  What  is  called 
a  life  membership  is  where  a  man  has  a  right  to  join  as  a  life  member 


46  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

by  the  payment  of  $100.  It  was  determined  (I  forget  just  when)  but  it 
was  decided  that  that  fund  should  be  an  accumulating  fund  to  be  set 
aside  to  be  used  for  some  especial  occasion  when  we  secured  our  perma- 
nent building.  Quite  likely  some  man  will  be  generous-hearted  enough 
to  help  us  in  building  our  permanent  home.  This  fund  could  be  used  to 
erect  a  statue  of  that  man  fitting  for  the  occasion  in  the  assembly  hall 
in  his  memory.  It  may  well  be  that  some  of  the  mining  men  of  the  West 
who  have  been  so  abundantly  supplied  by  Nature  and  their  energies  with 
this  world's  goods  and  have  accumulated  their  millions,  might  want  to 
dedicate  a  portion  of  that  bounty  to  the  service  of  the  mining  men.  In 
that  case  we  have  an  accumulating  fund  which  the  Congress  could  use 
to  express  their  appreciation  of  anything  of  that  kind. 

MAJOR  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  It  seems  to  me  what  you  need 
now  is  the  sinews  of  war.  I  listened  to  the  admirable  report  of  the  Secre- 
tary and  while  listening  it  occurred  to  me  the  work  accomplished  in  the 
past  is  almost  phenomenal  considering  the  small  amount  of  money  used  to 
bring  it  about.  What  we  need  is  money  now  and  work  now.  In  order 
to  get  this,  I  think  we  ought  to  put  our  shoulders  to  the  wheel.  It  does 
not  seem  to  me  that  the  mining  men  of  the  United  States-  can  afford 
to  stand  up  before  this  nation  as  a  poverty-stricken  body.  It  seems  to 
me  that  if  necessary  we  ought  to  go  down  in  our  pockets  and  until 
such  time  as  the  organization  can  take  care  of  itself,  furnish  the  necessary 
money.  This  work  ought  to  be  done.  I  believe  that  the  great  campaign 
of  publicity  ought  to  be  forwarded.  I  believe  that  every  mining  man 
ought  to  have  the  interest  of  mining  at  heart  and  the  welfare  of  the  peo- 
ple at  heart,  and  ought  to  take  pride  in  this  work.  I  believe  this  Congress 
is  the  body  to  do  it,  and  in  fact,  it  is  the  only  one  that  would  do  it.  What 
we  need  is  money,  and  I  want  to  say  that  people  of  Kansas  City  have 
talked  these  things  over  and  I  wish  to  say  that  the  new  Kansas  City  Min- 
ing Exchange  will  do  its  share  toward  furnishing  you  with  the  sinews  of 
war.  (Applause.) 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  I  wish  to  say  a  word  in  reply  to  the 
first  question  of  the  gentleman  from  Missouri  as  to  what  is  being  done 
to  increase  the  membership.  We  have  had  a  traveling  representative 
in  the  field  since  last  February,  who  has  traveled  over  a  large  part  of 
the  western  territory.  He  has  presented  this  matter  to  a  great  many 
people.  He  has  gotten  opinions  on  the  work  that  ought  to  be  done,  and 
we  have  in  our  office  a  tabulation  of  the  point  of  view  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  men  whom  he  has  interviewed  during  the  past  six  months.  We 
also  have  received  quite  a  large  nujnber  of  members  as  a  result  of  that 
work.  We  have  also  been  in.  correspondence  with  a  large  number  of 
people^  and  have  secured  members  through  that  correspondence. 

With  reference  to  the  amount  of  money  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  this  organization,  I  wish  to  say  to  you  gentlemen,  there  is  no 
limit  to  the  amount  of  work  that  ought  to  be  done.  We  have  tried,  in  our 
office  at  Denver,  with  a  small  amount  of  money  at  hand,  to  carry  on  sev- 
eral enterprises.  We  have  an  information  bureau  through  which  a  man 
may  make  inquiries  concerning  mining  investments.  In  order  to  carry 
on  that  work  successfully  the  information  should  be  gathered  in  from 
year  to  year,  and  we  are  doing  this,  and  in  time  will  have  in  our  office 
informations  of  all  the  important  mines. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Mining  Congress  to  have  information  on  all 
lines.  We  want  to  be  able  to  furnish  answers  to  any  questions  our  mem- 
bers may  ask  concerning  the  mining  industry.  In  order  to  do  this  we  must 
have  a  library  and  one  of  the  things  we  are  going  to  have  some  day  is 
a  complete  mining  library.  There  is  not  such  a  thing  in  the  world  today. 
We  want  the  American  Mining  Congress  to  have  one  so  that  if  you  come 
to  that  library  you  can  make  your  own  investigation.  If  you  cannot 
come  there,  it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  make  such  investiga- 
tion for  you. 

There  are  so  many  lines  of  work  in  which  this  organization  can  en- 
gage that  as  I  state  the  amount  of  money  which  we  can  expend  legiti- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  47 

mately  and  properly  for  the  benefit  of  the  mining  industry  is  practically 
unlimited,  and  we  hope  all  of  our  members  will  work  for  the  increase 
of  our  membership.  If  every  member  would  bring  in  another  during  the 
year  it  would  double  the  returns. 

MAJOR  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:     We  will  bring  in  ten. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  We  must  extend  our  influence  not 
only  to  bring  in  members  but  also  to  carry  out  the  idea  of  building  a 
mining  temple  in  Denver  which  will  be  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  world. 
We  hope  to  have  in  that  a  complete  mining  library.  We  hope  to  have 
there  a  complete  and  permanent  exhibit  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the 
nation,  and  when  we  have  all  those  things  in  that  Mining  Temple  and 
under  its  roof  which  can  be  used  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  mining  industry. 
I  believe  thiK  organization  will  be  one  which  will  be  of  substantial  ad- 
vantage to  every  member,  and  that  he  who  pays  his  dues  to  the  organiza- 
tion wil]  be  getting  a  substantial  return  for  his  money.  I  would  bo  glad 
if  you  gentlemen  would  each  and  every  one  constitute  himself  a  com- 
mittee of  one  to  increase  the  membership.  Another  thing.  Whenever 
you  feel  that  another  Secretary  can  do  the  work  better  than  I  can  you  will 
find  my  resignation  in  your  hands  promptly. 

H.'S.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  Some  of  the  expressions  of  our  Secre- 
tary have  lead  me  to  think.  The  Utah  delegation  are  naturally  of  an 
inquisitive  sort  but  since  coming  to  Missouri  they  have  been  imbued  with 
that  indomitable  spirit  of  "show  me."  We  have  been  shown  a  great 
many  things  by  the  people  of  Missouri.  We  have  been  shown  some 
of  the  best  mines  in  the  United  States,  and  we  have  been  shown  the 
best  hospitality  that  I  remember  having  been  shown  during  my  oxperi- 
ence  with  the  American  Mining  Congress,  which  extends  over  a  period  of 
five  years.  We  have  also  been  shown  some  of  the  prettiest  girls  I  have 
seen  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  think  we  are  en- 
titled to  be  shown  by  the  officers  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  or 
by  those  who  represent  Colorado  as  to  that  mining  home  that  the  Secre- 
tary referred  to.  Some  three  years  Salt  Lake  City  entered  into  the  arena 
and  battled  against  Denver  for  the  permanent  headquarters  of  the  Amer- 
ican Mining  Congress.  We  were  beaten  fairly  and  squarely,  and  we 
yielded  as  every  man  or  every  member  of  a  community  ought  to  do,  but 
three  years  have  passed,  and  we  yet  have  to  see  the  foundation  stone  of 
that  temple  laid.  We  have  been  promised  by  several  individuals  of 
Colorado,  but  as  yet  the  promises  are  still  in  the  air.  Utah  now  calls 
upon  Colorado  to  give  an  account  of  their  stewardship.  Where  is  the 
temple,  the  wonder  that  was  going  to  be  built? 

MR.  GALIGER,  OF  MONTANA:  I  do  not  wish  to  take  sides  in  this 
controversy  between  Utah  and  Colorado,  but  I  believe  I  have  the  same 
right  to  take  the  floor  in  the  defense  of  Montana  in  the  same  way  that 
Dr.  Buckley  had  to  take  the  part  of  Joplin,  Missouri  with  reference  to 
the  paper  which  has  been  presented  here.  I  feel  that  no  member  of  this 
Congress,  if  matters  not  what  the  proposition  is — has  the  right  and  die 
right  should  not  be  delegated  to  him,  of  making  a  report  on  a  mining  prop- 
erty which,  as  Dr.  Buckley  has  said,  he  is  not  fitted,  to  judge.  We  have 
excellent  and  competent  mining  engineers  who  have  passed  through  ths 
various  colleges,  have  paid  their  money  to  become  educated  so  that  they 
may  be  able  to  advise  the  public,  and  who  are  in  a  position  to  report  cor- 
rectly, and  who  are  at  this  time  endeavoring  to  have  laws  passed  whereby 
they  will  be  responsible  for  reports  which  they  will  make  upon  the 
various  mining  properties;  and  therefore  I  say  that  it  ought  not  to  be 
within  the  province  of  you  or  I  or  any  other  member  of  this  Congress  to 
make  reports,  or  knock  against  any  man's  proposition.  We  call  that 
knocking  in  our  country.  What  right  would  I  have  to  make  a  report  on  a 
mining  property  located  in  Nevada  or  anywhere  else,  that  I  had  not  seen. 
None  whatever.  Now  I  say  this  in  the  kindliest  of  feeling,  but  I  think 
it  is  wrong,  and  I  think  that  those  propositions  should  be  referred  to  our 
mining  experts  and  to  those  men  who  have  studied  mines  and  minerals 
and  who  shall  receive  a  just  compensation  for  the  work  which  they  have 
before  them.  Thank  you.  (Applause.) 


48  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

COLONEL  EWING:  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  nomination 
is  ready. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  report  of  the  Committee  of  Nominations 
as  follows: 

Joplin,   Mo.,   Nov.   13,   1907. 

Your  Committee  on  Nominations  makes  the  following  nominations: 
For  three  years, 

John   Bern   of   Utah, 
George  W.  E.  Dorsey  of  Nebraska, 
Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley  of  Missouri. 
For  one  year  term, 

A.  L.  White  of  Ohio.  R.  L.  MARTIN, 

Chairman. 

DR.  HOLMES,  OF  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.:  I  make  the  motion  that 
the  Secretary  be  instructed  to  cast  the  ballot  of  the  members  of  this 
organization  for  the  four  names  that  have  just  been  read  as  directors 
of  this  organization. 

MR.  WHITE,  OF  OHIO:     I  second  the  motion. 

The  motion  being  then  put  by  the  chair  was  unanimously  carried 
and  the  Secretary  was  so  instructed. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  In  accordance  with  your  instructions 
I  have  cast  the  unanimous  ballot  of  the  members  present  for  John  Dern, 
George  W.  E.  Dorsey  and  E.  R.  Buckley  to  serve  as  directors  for  three 
years,  and  for  A.  L.  White  to  serve  as  director  tor  one  year  and  until 
their  successors  are  duly  elected  and  qualified. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  .  This  elects  four  directors  for  the  terms 
stated.  These  four  men  of  course  I  know  personally  and  I  have  never 
seen  such  devotion  to  the  cause  in  my  life  as  I  have  seen  from  these  men 
that  have  just  been  elected  as  members  of  this  board.  They  have  spent 
their  money  and  given  their  time,  and  I  think  that  it  is  an  expression  of 
confidence  in  those  men  to  re-elect  them  which  they  will  fully  appreciate. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  renew  my  question  of  information  about 
the  mining  temple.  We  are  entitled  to  know  something  of  what  has  been 
done. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  really  have  no  control  over  the  Colo- 
rado delegation. 

MR.  JOSEPH:     Here  they  are. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:      They  don't  seem  ready  to  respond. 

T.  M.  HO  WELL,  OF  COLORADO:  I  want  to  state,  Mr.  Chairman 
and  fellow  delegates,  when  I  was  elected  chairman  of  our  delegation,  I 
did  not  suppose  for  one  moment  that  they  were  going  to  call  upon  me 
to  respond  to  anything  in  the  convention.  It  was  simply  to  look  after 
the  men  here.  I  will  state,  however,  that  looking  over  the  program  I 
find  our  ex-Governor  C.  S.  Thomas  was  to  report  on  this  matter.  I  saw 
Governor  Thomas  a  few  days  before  I  left  Denver,  and  it  was  the  under- 
standing that  he  would  be  here,  but  Governor  Thomas  was  detained  in 
Iowa  as  I  understand  it,  before  the  Iowa  Supreme  Court,  and  could  -not 
be  .here.  I  think  probably  some  other  member  of  the  delegation  knows 
more  about  the  temple  proposition  than  I  do.  I  am  simply  offering  this 
as  an  explanation  of  why  the  report  has  not  been  made.  As  far  as  talk- 
ing about  the  temple  is  concerned,  there  are  quite  a  bunch  of  orators  in 
our  delegation.  I  don't  happen  to  be  one  of  them. 

DR.  J.  A.  HOLMES:  There  is  a  point  with  reference  to  increasing 
the  membership  of  the  Congress.  The  growth  of  an  organization  depends 
upon  the  work  of  the  organization,  upon  the  enthusiasm,  and  the  con- 
scientious straightforward  work  of  the  members,  and  the  effort  made  by 
the  members  of  this  organization  toward  inducing  others  to  join  the  c  rgan- 
ization.  It  is  worth  a  great  deal  more  than  any  effort  which  any  one  per- 
son can  make  or  any  small  number  of  persons.  I  am  glad  the  Secretary 
has  made  the  efforts  which  he  has  by  sending  a  representative  through 
the  country,  in  soliciting  memberships  for  this  organization,  but  I  think 
the  way  to  get  members  from  this  time  on  is  through  the  individual 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  49 

effort  of  members  already  existing  in  the  organization.  I  think  the  sug- 
gestion made  that  every  member  should  secure  not  one  or  two  or  three 
or  four  members  but  ten,  as  the  gentleman  suggested,  a  point  to  be  con- 
sidered by  the  enthusiastic  worker  as  the  minimum  of  the  influence  he 
would  bring  to  bear  and  the  number  of  members  he  would  look  forward 
to  bringing  into  the  organization  and  the  policy  to  work  to.  I  believe 
if  the  400  active  members  of  this  organization  will  be  active  in  reality  that 
we  will  have  not  400  but  several  thousand  of  members  within  the  next 
few  years.  I  think  that  is  within  the  possibilities,  and  I  think  it  is  within 
the  practical,  and  I  think  it  is  the  thing  to  do. 

MR.  R.  H.  KEMP,  OF  WASHINGTON:  -It  appears  to  rue  that  there 
should  be  a  great  deal  more  publicity  about  the  Mining  Congress  and  some 
means  should  be  devised  whereby  its  objects  and  aims  should  be  pro- 
mulgated throughout  the  United  States.  I  may  be  on  delicate  ground, 
being  editor  of  the  Northwest  Mining  Journal,  but  I  think  this  Congress 
ought  to  be  more  thoroughly  advertised.  Not  long  ago  in  the  city  01! 
Spokane  in  the  office  of  the  ex-district  judge  of  the  territory  of  Wash- 
ington, an  ex-United  States  senator  was  present,  when  your  representative 
called  and  talked  to  him  regarding  the  American  Mining  Congress.  After 
some  conversation  the  ex-United  States  senator  scratched  the  bald  place 
on  his  head  and  said:  "An  institution  I  know  nothing  of."  After  being 
entertained  as  I  have  been  in  the  state  of  Missouri — the  greatest  enter- 
tainment I  have  ever  had  upon  the  Atlantic  or  Pacific  coast,  I  am  almost 
ashamed  to  say  that  that  ex-United  States  senator  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Missouri.  I  take  the  responsibility  of  saying  that  we  need  more  pub- 
licity. We  want  others  to  know  what  we  are,  what  our  objects  are  and 
what  we  are  doing. 

MR.  FRANK  E.  WIRE,  OF  ILLINOIS:  Relative  to  the  matter  of 
obtaining  more  members  for  the  American  Mining  Congress  I  think  that 
we  ought  to  adopt  some  plan  to  bring  about  an  increased  jnembership.  I 
have  a  little  suggestion  to  make  along  this  line  and  it  is  this:  That  every 
member  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  give  three  names  of  de- 
sirable people,  of  his  best  friends,  to  the  Secretary,  and  that  the  Secre- 
tary write  to  these  three  individuals  and  say  "Mr.  John  Smith,  your 
friend,  has  suggested  that  I  write  you  relative  to  your  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Mining  Congress."  Write  him  a  nice  letter,  giving 
him  information  concerning  our  organization,  its  purposes,  etc.  Tell  him 
that  M'r.  John  Smith  would  be  glad  to  give  him  further  information.  Let  the 
Secretary  keep  in  touch  with  these  people.  I  believe  in  this  way  we 
could  greatly  increase  our  membership.  I  believe  that  fifty  per  cent,  of 
these  names  could  be  brought  into  the  organization.  I  believe  this  is  prac- 
tical and  feasible  and  that  it  will  work.  What  we  want  here  is  tictive 
work  and  not  theories.  We  want  something  to  do,  something  we  can 
act  on,  and  if  everyone  constitutes  himself  a  committee  of  one  to  go  out 
and  get  members,  we  will  get  members.  In  the  first  years  of  its  life  the 
American  Mining  Congress  was  a  joke,  but  now  it  is  compelling  the  re- 
spect of  not  only  people  in  high  places  in  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  but  by  foreign  consuls  in  this  country,  for  the  careful  management 
lor  its  ideals  and  for  the  enthusiasm  its  members  have  shown  for  the 
good  of  mining  interests  and  the  work  of  the  organization.  Another 
thing,  the  American  Mining  Congress  used  to  be  considered  a  Western  or 
a  Southwestern  Congress;  it  was  not  considered  as  an  Ameri- 
can institution,  but  the  progressive  policy  of  its  management  has  now 
placed  it  where  it  is  a  national  mining  congress,  an  American  Miring 
Congress  in  reality.  I  would  like  to  see  the  plan  which  I  have  sug- 
gested tried. 

MAJOR  F.  C.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  I  would  like  to  take  issue  in 
some  respects  with  the  gentleman  from  Illinois.  When  Dr.  Bell  first  in- 
vented the  telephone  he  was  a  joke.  When  Morse  invented  the  tele- 
graph he  was  a  joke.  When  practically  all  the  institutions  we  now  onjoy 
first  came  to  the  notice  of  the  people  they  were  jokes.  I  believe  the 
American  Mining  Congress  is  and  always  has  been  a  dignified  institu- 

^wv*"V 

Of  THE       .        A 

(UNIVERSITY) 

OF  ~J 


^^ 

S 


50  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

tion  from  the  time  of  its  inception  and  that  it  has  reached  that  postion 
where  it  is  a  representative  body  of  representative  mining  men. 

Now,  as  to  the  matter  of  correspondence.  I  think  personal  work 
can  do  much  more  than  letters.  I  have  not  the  least  hesitancy  in  the 
world  in  turning  down  my  best  friend  through  a  stenographer,  but  when 
my  best  friend  takes  off  his  coat  and  spends  two  or  three  hours  with  me, 
stays  with  me  and  keeps  after  me  week  in  and  week  out  and  month  after 
month  and  gives  me  no  peace  until  I  do  what  he  wants  me  to,  it  is  pretty 
likely  that  he  will  get  me  on  his  proposition.  I  find  in  my  own  business 
that  a  long  distance  proposition  does  not  appeal  to  me.  But  if  a  man 
comes  where  I  am  and  gives  me  a  personal  talk,  if  his  proposition  is  any 
good,  I  am  usually  in  the  end  with  him.  This  endless  chain  proposition 
will  work,  as  it  did  with  the  National  Druggist  Association,  which  started 
with  twenty  members  and  now  has  20,000.  Its  the  personal  work  that 
counts. 

MR.  JOHN  DERN,  OF  UTAH:  I  know  that  my  friend  Mr.  Joseph 
will  not  be  satisfied  unless  his  inquiry  as  to  the  present  status  of  the 
mining  temple  is  answered,  I  believe  that  before  closing  this  session  this 
matter,  which  concerns  us  all,  should  be  taken  up  and  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  board  of  directors  to  give  the  report  called  for,  so  that  ail  of  us 
present  may  know  what  has  been  and  is  being  done.  We  would  like  to 
know  the  present  status.  Our  worthy  Secretary,  Mr.  Callbreata,  I  be- 
lieve is  in  a  position  to  give  us  this  information  and  I  ask  him  to  explain 
it  to  every  one  present  so  that  we  may  know  in  just  what  state  the  Ameri- 
can Mining  Congress  Temple  is. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  After  the  location  of  the  permanent 
home  in  Denver,  various  plans  were  discussed.  Your  Secretary  under- 
took to  bring  about  the  adoption  of  a  plan  to  erect  such  a  building  from 
the  proceeds  of  a  sale  of  bonds.  The  plan  was  carefully  prepared  upon 
the  basis  of  a  bond  issue  of  $300,000,  it  being  expected  that  the  bonds 
would  be  issued  for  a  long  time  and  at  a  low  rate  of  interest,  and  that 
individuals  could  be  induced  to  subscribe  for  these  bonds  partly  as  an  in- 
vestment and  partly  as  a  matter  of  assistance  to  the  American  Mining 
Congress  in  its  work.  It  was  proposed  at  that  time  to  put  up  a  business 
block,  to  keep  one  or  two  floors,  or  whatever  space  might  be  necessary, 
for  the  work  of  the  Congress  and  to  lease  out  the  other  rooms,  and  as  our 
departments  should  grow,  to  cut  down  the  space  occupied  by  tenants, 
and  eventually  to  have  the  building  to  ourselves.  That  these  bonds 
could  be  paid  out  of  membership  dues,  and  fees  and  from  the  revenue 
derived  from  the  building. 

This  plan  was  presented  to  your  board  of  directors.  Your  President 
and  one  or  two  of  the  other  directors  felt  that  when  this  building  was 
competed,  it  should  be  paid  for,  and  after  conference  with  prominent 
mining  men  in  Denver,  who  also  agreed  with  the  directors  the  bond 
plan  was  not  approved.  It  was  thought  best  to  postpone  the  entire  mat- 
ter until  provisions  could  be  made  to  raise  the  cash  necessary  for  such 
a  building.  It  was  believed  the  building  should  be  paid  for  when  com- 
pleted, that  it  should  be  a  monument  to  the  mining  industry,  and  that 
it  should  be  so  arranged  as  to  its  ownership  that  it  would  not  be  possible 
that  it  should  ever  be  used  for  any  other  purpose.  It  was  also  suggested 
that  the  legislature  pass  a  bill  providing  that  the  state  of  Colorado  should 
hold  in  trust  such  building  and  appropriating  $250,000  for  the  purpose  ol 
building  this  temple.  Such  a  bill  was  presented  to  the  legislature  but 
it  was  found  that  there  was  no  money  available  in  the  state  fund  out 
of  whi^h  the  money  could  be  appropriated. 

The  matter  was  presented  to  the  finance  committees  of  the 
two  branches  of  the  legislature  and  they  agreed  if  it  was  possible  ro  find 
the  fund  that  the  money  would  be  appropriated,  to  be  held  in  trust  by  the 
state  of  Colorado  for  the  benefit  of  the  Congress,  to  be  used  in  the  build- 
ing when  arrangements  were  completed.  We  did  finally  succeed  in  get- 
ting a  small  appropriation  for  that  purpose — an  appropriation  of  $10,000 
and  the  bill  was  passed  in  that  form  so  that  we  are  now  ready  to  proceed 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  51 

along  that  line.  The  Colorado  members  of  the  Congress  have  not  been 
asleep.  The  President  and  the  Directors  have  believed  that  some  mining 
man  in  this  country,  having  made  his  millions,  will  donate  money  for 
this  purpose,  with  the  idea  of  making  this  temple  so  magnificent  that 
there  will  be  nothing  like  it  in  this  western  country.  It  is  now  proposed 
to  raise  $1,500,000  for  that  purpose. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  It  may  be  fitting  for  me  to  say  something 
in  this  connection.  I  do  not  want  to  shirk  responsibility  in  this  matter. 
It  is  evident  that  the  Secretary  has  shifted  responsibility  on  my  should- 
ers. The  Colorado  people  came  before  the  Board  of  Directors  and  pre- 
sented the  outline  of  a  plan  to  raise  money  for  a  mining  temple  by  the 
issuance  of  bonds,  and  a  large  part  of  the  directors  were  in  favor  of  this 
plan.  After  hearing  what  they  had  to  say,  I  said  to  my  colleagues,  "That 
is  entirely  too  cheap  according  to  my  ideas.  I  believe  that  the  mining 
men  of  this  country,  when  they  bring  the  great  possibilities  of  mining 
before  the  American  people,  and  the  American  miner,  that  ho  has  got 
generosity  enough  in  his  heart  to  build  on  that  great  site  in  Colorado, 
with  that  magnificent  view  in  front  of  him,  a  temple  that  will  be  worthy 
of  the  mining  industry  of  America."  I  said,  "If  I  am  the  man  that  ever 
gives  enough  to  build  that  temple,  I  want  it  dedicated  to  that  use  for- 
ever. I  don't  want  it  sold  out  under  a  bond  foreclosure  or  a  mortgage 
foreclosure,  and  let  somebody  get  it  for  nothing.  I  don't  want  it  sold 
on  a  debt  or  for  taxes.  I  want  to  know  the  building  is  to  be  dedicated 
for  all  time  to  come  to  the  uses  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  mining  in- 
dustry of  this  country."  I  said  "Don't  be  in  a  hurry.  When  you  get  this 
thing  in  shape.  When  you  need  this  money,  you  will  get 
it."  My  aim  is  to  get  on  a  foundation  worthy  of  this 
Congress  and  of  the  mining  men  of  the  country.  I  said  "That  is  the 
foundation  on  which  I  want  it  to  rest — not  on  a  bond  foreclosure.  I  have 
no  question  in  my  mind  about  the  money.  That  is  a  small  thing.  What 
I  want  to  do  is  just  to  get  the  hearts  of  the  mining  men  united.  I 
haven't  any  question  about  our  getting  two  million,  if  we  need  it,  not  a 
bit.  I  haven't  any  doubt  about  it.  It  is  possible,  if  you  are  not  in  too  big 
a  hurry.  (Applause.)  The  thing  to  do  is  to  get  the  hearts  of  the  mining 
men  warm,  to  insure  their  co-operation,  and  when  their  hearts  are  right, 
we  will  get  the  money. 

I  am  perfectly  willing  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  this  delay.  I 
did  state  to  those  men,  if  we  raise  money  to  build  the  temple,  Colorado 
must  endow  it  so  that  it  wll  be  a  monument  to  the  mining  interests  for- 
ever. They  have  agreed  to  do  that  or  we  will  take  it  somewhere  else 
where  they  will  do  it.  What  Colorado  will  not  do,  somebody  else  will. 
I  believe  we  will  erect  there  in  the  midst  of  those  great  mountains,  a 
temple  that  will  express  all  that  is  grand,  beautiful  and  enduring  in  min- 
ing, and  I  believe  the  men  will  come  forward  for  that  purpose.  And  I  be- 
lieve when  that  is  done,  we  will  have  interest  enough  in  those  men  who 
have  made  it  possible  to  erect  this  temple,  that  the  statues  of  those  men 
will  be  placed  in  the  temple  as  an  inspiration  to  the  mining  men  of  this 
country  for  all  future  years.  That  is  why  I  stated  to  you  that  we  were 
putting  aside  a  permanent  fund  for  that  purpose. 

I  know  in  the  years  that  are  yet  to  come  a  few  more  of  those  great 
big  mining  men  like  you  saw  sitting  on  the  stage  last  night  with  the 
fidelity  they  have  shown  during  the  last  five  years  will  join  us,  and  we 
will  command  the  respect  of  this  great  country  for  our  generation.  We 
have  it  now.  When  we  go  down  there  and  have  a  conference  with  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  and  at  the  first  conference  he  says  "No.  You 
are  not  entitled  to  that;"  at  the  second  conference  he  says:  "I  am  in 
doubt;"  and  at  the  third  conference,  he  says:  "Your  are  right,"  we  are 
gaining  ground.  We  have  sent  annually  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  ever  since  the  present  one  has  been  in  office,  resolutions  and  let- 
ters asking  his  support.  We  never  have  had  it  so  far,  but  when  you  go 
right  directly  before  him,  representing  with  full  authority  to  speak  for' 
the  mining  men  of  the  Western  country,  he  says  "What  do  you  mining 


52  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

men  want."  I  told  you  last  night  what  we  told  him,  and  we  got  it  in  a 
minute.  He  is  that  kind  of  a  man,  and  he  will  do  just  what  he  said  he 
would  do.  We  will  get  the  law  passed  and  on  that  we  will  found  a  de- 
partment. That  this  nation  will  be  brought  to  give  us  the  same  ser- 
vice it  renders  to  the  agriculturist. 

Suppose  it  takes  ten  years  to  build  our  temple.  Our  ideas  may  change 
in  that  .time,  but  when  we  get  it,  it  will  represent  all  that  is  beautiful  and 
grand  and  enduring  and  useful.  If  I  am  wrong  in  that,  I  am  glad  to  be 
corrected,  but  I  think  I  am  responsible  to  a  large  extent  for  the  delay  in 
this  matter  because  I  am  trying  to  work  out  a  problem. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  these  expressions  from  you,  no  matter  whether  you 
agree  with  me  or  not.  It  is  better  that  you  should  disagree  so  that  the 
best  may  be  brought  out.  I  may  not  be  expressing  that  which  is  best, 
but  if  I  am  not,  you  ought  to  express  it.  I  think  at  this  time  I  am  justified 
in  saying  that  I  agree  in  the  remarks  of  the  gentleman  from  Montana 
about  this  information  bureau.  It  has  never  pleased  me.  It  does  not 
seem  to  me  it  is  along  the  right  lines.  I  know  we  undertook  it  for  a  while 
with  my  tacit  consent,  but  I  am  not  pleased  with  it.  It  does  not  im- 
press me  favorably,  but  at  t,he  same  time  if  any  good  can  be  brought 
from  it,  I  am  willing  to  put  aside  my  personal  views  along  that  line. 

I  want  you  to  express  yourself — what  you  think  in  these  matters  so 
that  I  can  catch  a  good  thought  from  you.  You  have  placed  me  here  this 
year  to  guide  the  deliberations  of  this  body  next  year.  I  have  no  words 
in  which  to  express  the  gratitude  I  feel  for  the  confidence  that  has  been 
placed  in  me  for  the  past  five  years.  When  you  can  find  a  better  man  than 
myself  for  the  place,  I  hope  for  the  sake  of  every  one  you  will  select  him 
in  my  place,  and  I  will  be  the  first  man  to  support  him,  but  until  you  do 
and  you  feel  you  need  me,  you  have  the  right  to  command  me. 

It  has  been  suggested  to  me  that  on  account  of  the  time  which  it  has 
taken  and  the  expenses  I  have  incurred  I  ought  to  have  a  salary.  I  said 
"When  you  undertake  to  put  me  on  a  salary,  I  withdraw.  When  you  un- 
dertake to  give  me  a  salary,  you  take  away  my  power,  just  as  they  did 
with  Sampson  when  they  cut  his  hair.  I  want  to  do  this  work,  because  I 
want  to  arouse  the  best  of  the  mining  men  of  the  country.  I  have  di- 
rectors for  the  next  year  in  whom  I  have  the  most  absolute  confidence. 
Let  us  hear  your  expression  on  these  matters.  I  hope  I  have  not  detained 
you  too  long. 

If  there  is  no  further  business  to  come  before  this  meeting,  if  there  is 
no  objection,  we  will  stand  adjourned  until  tomorrow  at  9 : 30. 


THURSDAY,    NOVEMBER    14,  1907. 
Morning  Session. 

VICE  PRESIDENT  BUCKLEY:     The  Congress  will  come  to  order. 

COL.  DORSET:  As  Chairman  of  the  Resolutions  Committee  I  re- 
port the  following  substitute  for  resolutions  No.  1,  which  I  will  ask  the 
Secretary  to  read. 

The  Secretary  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolutions   No.   1. 

The  following  is  offered  by  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  Resolution  No.  1,  and  embodies  the  resolution  introduced  "by 
Mr.  Lewis  E.  Aubury,  of  California: 

Whereas,  Many  evils  are  recognized  to  exist  in  the  acquisition  of 
title  to  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  under  the  present  laws  of 
the  United  States;  and, 

Whereas,  It  is  recognized  that  the  present  laws  of  the  United  States 
do  not  adequately  provide  for  all  the  conditions  under  which  mineral  de- 
posits are  now  known  to  occur,  neither  sufficiently  protecting  the  rights 
of  the  people  against  the  speculative  acquirement  of  large  areas  of  the 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  53 

national  domain,  nor  enabling  the  honest  acquirement  of  such  areas  of 
territory  as  modern  conditions  have  shown  to  be  necessary  in  many 
cases.  Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Mining  Congress,  in  convention  assem- 
bled, urges  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  immediate  re- 
vision of  the  public  land  laws  in  such  a  way  as  to  correct  the  evils  cited 
above.  And  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  pending  the  passage  of  such  a  revised  general  land 
law  the  American  Mining  Congress  recommends  the  enactment  of  a  law 
providing  that  on  all  patents  for  lands  classified  as  other  than  mineral 
which  may  be  issued  in  the  meanwhile,  all  mineral  rights  shall  be  re- 
served by  the  government  and  that  separate  patents  shall  be  issued 
for  such  mineral  rights  after  the  proper  requirements  have  been  com- 
plied with. 

Upon  motion  duly  made,  seconded  and  put,  the  resolution  was  adopted. 

COL.  DORSEY:  The  Committee  on  Resolutions  then  reported  back 
Resolution  No.  7,  offered  by  Dr.  Alderson,  with  an  amendment  striking 
out  "Department  of  Mines  and  Mining"  and  substituting  therefor  "Bureau 
of  Mines  and  Mining."  with  that  exception  Resolution  No.  7  is  recom- 
mended for  adoption.  The  Secretary  will  read  the  Resolution  as 
amended: 

The  Secretary  read  the  Resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution   No.  7. 
(Introduced  by  Dr.  Victor  C.  Alderson,  of  Colorado.) 

Whereas,  The  education  of  young  men  for  the  mining  profession  is  a 
most  important  element  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  mining  industry  and  the 
placing  of  it  upon  a  substantial  and  economic  basis,  and 

Whereas,  The  National  Association  of  State  Mining  Schools  has 
been  energetic  in  urging  legislation  in  behalf  of  mining  education,  and 

Whereas,  The  interests  of  the  National  Association  of  State  Mining 
Schools  and  the  American  Mining  Congress  are  in  many  ways  identical, 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Association  of  State  Mining  Schools  is 
hereby  invited  heartily  to  co-operate  with  the  American  Mining  Congress 
in  the  securing  of  its  objects,  and  particularly  in  its  efforts  to  secure  a 
Bureau  of  Mines  and  Mining. 

Upon  motion  duly  made,  seconded  and  put,  the  Resolution  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

COL  DORSEY:  Mr.  President  a  letter  from  the  Nevada  and  Los 
Angeles  Mining  Stock  Exchange  and  a  telegram  from  Congressman  Bart- 
lett  of  Nevada,  asks  this  Congress  to  adopt  a  resolution  recommending 
that  the  assessment  work  required  for  the  year  1907  be  omitted,  was  re- 
ferred to  this  comittee.  It  would  be  impossible  for  Congress  to  take 
action  during  the  month  of  December.  Such  a  proposition  could  scarcely 
be  introduced  in  time  to  take  effect  during  this  year,  so  your  committee 
deem  it  wise  to  ask  that  this  matter  be  laid  upon  the  table.  I  therefore 
make  a  motion  that  it  be  laid  upon  the  table. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  and  put,  was  unanimously  car- 
ried. 

Report  of  Credentials  Committee  made  as  follows: 

Joplin,  Mo.,  Nov.  14,  1907. 
To  the  Tenth  Annual  Session  of  the  American  Mining  Congress: 

We,  the  members  of  the  Credentials  Committee,  find  upon  examination 
of  the  credentials  presented  that  the  following  number  of  persons,  from 
the  different  States,  respectively,  are  entitled  to  seats  in  this  Congress  as 
Delegates : 

Alaska  2 

Arizona 5 

Arkansas    32 

California 4 

Colorado    • 21 

Connecticut   . 1 


54  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

District  of  Columbia 7 

Idaho    5 

Illinois    • 27 

Indiana    6 

Indian   Territory % 5 

Iowa 1 

Kansas   43 

Massachusetts    . . . : , 2 

Mexico    1 

Michigan 1 

Minnesota    3 

Mississippi 1 

Missouri    . 105 

Montana 2 

Nebraska  2 

Nevada  6 

New  Mexico  5 

New  York   4 

Oklahoma    7 

Ohio   12 

Pennsylvania    5 

South  Carolina    1 

South  Dakota 2 

Tennessee   3 

Texas 1 

Utah    9 

Washington    2 

West  Virginia    • 2 

Wisconsin    4 

Wyoming  5 

Total 344 

(Signed)    E.  O.  BARTLETT,  Chairman. 
(Signed)     H.  W.  WTLKER,  Secretary. 
(Signed)  CHAS.  T.  HUTCHINSON. 


List  of  Delegates. 

ALASKA. 

Yarmell,  L.  G Nome 

Baklry,  H.  G.  C Fairbanks 

ARIZONA. 

Bell,  C.  B Douglas 

Badger,  S.  S Douglas 

Dooglan,   S.   S Douglas 

Lewandowski,  J.   A Douglas 

Royce,  W.  K Tucson 

Ewing,  Col.  Thos Vivian 

ARKANSAS. 

Bunch,  J.  A Harrison 

Campbell,    W.    P. .- St.  Joe 

Estes,  Ambrose  W Yellville 

Gehr,  P.  H Mountain  Home 

Crane,  A.  T Kenden   Springs 

Duncan,   G.    . Dodd  City 

Hand,  J.  H Yellville 

For,  A.  A Harrison 

Purdue,  A.  H Fayetteville 

Smith,  H.  W Led   Hill 

Zimmerman,   Ed. Harrison 

Floyd,  J.  C Yellville 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  55 

Layton,  W.  E Yellville 

Jackman,  H.  H H Fort  Smith 

Brown.  L.  L Zinc 

Crampton,  EL  J Leslie 

Buie,   Henry  T Buffalo 

Fredricks,   L.   G Buffalo 

Payne,  H.  R . .' Yellville 

Lane,  L.  M Eureka  Springs 

Lane,  Mrs.  L.  M;   Eureka  Springs 

Lane,  Zella   Eureka  Springs 

Barham,  E Zinc 

Cane,   D.   W,    Zinc 

McDonald,  John  Helena 

CALIFORNIA. 

Ward,  W.  W San  Francisco 

Hutchinson,  Chas.  T • San  Francisco 

Sargent,   Geo.    M Los  Angeles 

Harper,   J.    H Los  Angeles 

COLORADO. 

Alderson,  Victor  C Golden 

Comstock,  A.  R Idaho   Siprings 

Clerc,  F.  L Denver 

Daniels,  Wm.  P '" Denver 

Hoskin,  Arthur  J Golden 

Howell,  T.  M Denver 

Koch,  W.  A Denver 

Gardner,  J.  M Cripple  Creek 

Proske,  T.  H Denver 

Wetherill,   W.    C Denver 

Thomas,  W.  B Canon  City 

Thompson,  H.  L Denver 

Wood,  John  R Denver 

Martin,  R.   L Central   City 

Dubbs,  Capt.  J.  A.  Denver 

Callbreath,    Jas.    F .Denver 

Davis,  Robert  W Silverton 

Davis,  Mrs.  R.  W Silverton 

Downey,    Chas.    J Denver 

Pease,  L.  A Slater 

Mills,  W.  F.  R Denver 

CONNECTICUT. 

Huntoon,  L.  D New  Haven 

DISTRICT    OF   COLUMBIA. 

Hess,   Frank   L Washington 

Campbell,   M.   R ^ Washington 

Lindgren,    Waldemar    Washington 

Smith,  Geo.   Otis    Washington 

Brooks,    Alfred    H Washington 

Upham,    Nellie    C Washington 

Holmes,  Dr.  J.  A Washington 

IDAHO. 

Samuels,  H.  H Wallace 

Berkshire,  J.  H Boise 

Berkshire,  Mrs.    J.    H '. Boise 

Whitsel,  R.  P Wallace 

Richards,  J.  H Boise 

ILLINOIS. 

Bain,   H.   Foster    UrbiJia 

Baxter,  E.  J Nauvoo 

Clark,  H.  S Chicago 

Christy,  G Murphytown 

Dotiglan,  W.  A , Chicago 


56  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

DeWolf,  F.  W.  .  . Champaign 

Ede,  J.  A. t La  Salle 

Fisher,  A.  C Chicago 

Holman,  J.  W Chicago 

Tisley,  Lyman  A Chicago 

Kutch,  W.  G.  .  . La  Salle 

Murray,  Hugh , Equality 

Murray,  Mrs.  Hugh.  . Equality 

George,  C.  W Chicago 

Greene,  L.  A Chicago 

Moravia,  W Chicago 

Newson,  R.   Peoria 

Noon.  Thomas  F : "...  Peru 

Girley,  L.  A.  . Chicago 

Skinner,  M.  B Chicago 

Treat,  Curt  M • Chicago 

Terrill,  H : Colchester 

Wire,  Frank  E Libertyville 

Lake,  John Perry 

Elmer,  H.  M' Chicago 

Rice,  G.  S Chicago 

INDIAN  TERRITORY. 

Colman,  G.  L.  .  .  .  .  Miami 

Neal,  W.  B.  . • Miami 

Robinson,  J.  F.  .  .  . Miami 

Pelson,  F.  D .' ^ Wallace 

Rozelle,  F.  M.  .  .  .  .  .  Wallace 

IOWA. 

Campbell,  D.  O Cleveland 

KANSAS. 

Cooley,  B Galena 

Hazen,  J.  H Curranville 

Moore,  J.  C Galena 

Mackie,  D.  J Scammon 

Mackie,  Mrs.  D.  J Scammon 

Gilday,   F Pittsburg 

Clure,  A.  W,  .  . Galena 

Nevins,  E.  S.  .  :  .  .  .   . Pittsburg 

Fry,  G.  A lola 

Stevens,  O.  V lola 

Rodgers,  J.  O lola 

Keplinger,  Mrs.  JVT.  E Baxter  Springs 

Cooke,  H.  VH Lawrence 

Holliday,  John.  . Pittsburg 

Vest,  T.  J Galena 

Watson,  J.  W.  . Baxter  Springs 

Watson,  Mrs.  J.  W. Baxter  Springs 

Ping,  Robert. Galena 

Bramlette,  S.  A.  .  .  .    West  Mineral 

Gilman,  Robert Pittsburg 

Young,  C.  M Lawrence 

McClure,  W.  H.  .  .  .   lola 

Pompeney,  Dr.  Jos.  A. Frontenac 

Lindsay,  W.  M Pittsburg 

Spencer,  Chas Stippeville 

Bickell,  Peter Frontenac 

McManus,  P.  L West  Mineral 

Haworth,  E Lawrence 

Sneever,  C.  D ' Columbus 

M'ason,  E.  E Independence 

Fletcher,  Joseph.  .  .  .  - .    .* Fontenac 

Lynch,  John Pittsburg 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  57 

Mason,  L.  C Independence 

McElhenie,  A.   J Pittsburg 

Howat,  Alex. Pittsburg 

Sweeney,  C.  M Weir  City 

Williams,  J.  H Weir  City 

MEXICO. 
Gregory,  J.  R.  .  . Boutery 

MISSOURI. 

Ameling,  H.  R St.  Louis 

Clushong,  J.  F Fredericktown 

Terr,  Mrs.  A.  L, Alba 

Buckley,  E.  R Rolla 

Buckley,  Mrs.  E.  R.  .  .  .   Rolla 

Thomas,  R.  C Bevier 

Brinsmade,  R.  B * St.  Louis 

Bowles,  W.  A ., Granby 

Bowles,  Mrs.  W.  A.  . Granby 

Hogan,  W.  G Kansas  City 

Underwood,  J.  R Granby 

Underwood,  Mrs.  J.  R Granby 

Buehler,  H.  A. Flat  River 

Veatch,  J.  C Webb  City 

Bruce,  F.  D. St.   Joe 

Watson,  Wm Webb  City 

Durley,  John Carthage 

Warne,  G.  W Carterville 

Erner,  Mrs.  C.  A. Alba 

Watermann,  C.  H. Aurora 

Elliott,  Mrs.  C.  E. '. Oronogo 

Wilker,  H.  W St.  Louis 

Hevghill,  J.  P Joplin 

Monurl,  George Moberly 

Kingston,  J Granby 

Ground,  C.  W • Carthage 

Kirby,  E.  B Flat  River 

Newell,  J.  P. Carthage 

Leonard,  W.  D •. St.  Louis 

Perkins,  E • Granby 

Moore.  Mrs.  J.  A Oronogo 

Perkins,  Mrs.  E Granby 

Gamm,  G.  P /. Monett 

Ragland,  W Webb  City 

Gatch,  Elias  S St.  Louis 

Smith,  C.  H Carterville 

Brand,  J.  H Canon  City 

Cantwell,  Harry  J St.  Louis 

Lamgenhol,  A.  D.  .  .  . St.  Louis 

Spencer,  Mrs.  N.  C Sarcoxfe 

Moore,  Miss  M'.  D. • Sarcoxie 

Vincent,  Maj.  F.  C. Kansas  City 

Vincent,  Mrs.  F.  C Kansas  City 

Crall,  J.   S .Kansas  City 

Shephard,  Prof.  E.  M. Springfield 

Cole,  Amadee  B St.  Louis 

Ladd,  G.  E Rolla 

Scott,  W.  H.  .  .  . Aurora 

Coleman,  M.  L. Aurora 

Reppy,  W.  E Carl  Junction 

Jones,  T.  C Webb  City 

Swinford,  C.  G Pickering 

Morse,   P.   R St.  Louis 

Boyd,  J.  S.  .  Carthage 


58  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Robinson,  R.  C Kansas  City 

Johnson,  R.  C Carl  Junction 

Tandum'  C.  W. Carthage 

Etter,  J.  F Kansas  City 

ProudHt,  H.  K Kansas  City 

Burkhardt,  G.  L. Joplin 

Clark,  Hon.  .  .  .     .' . Kansas   City 

Germern,  A.  H Webb  City 

Brihir,  D.  J Webb  City 

Wing,  L.  W Joplin 

Whiteside, Carthage 

Bowlen,  J.  A. Kansas  City 

Cole,  H.  C Carterville 

Campbell,  W.  J Kansas  City 

Kane,  W.  B Carterville 

Stone,  R.  S.  .  .  .  Carterville 

Gondborn,  W.  J Carterville 

Campbell,  H.  C Carterville 

Kelton,  Mrs.  T.  W Aurora 

Miller,  M'rs.  E.  B Aurora 

Mathis,  Mrs.  M Aurora 

Pfan,  Mrs.  E.  W Aurora 

Horstman,  G.  W Kansas  City 

Sinclair,  P.  R Aurora 

Sinclair,  Mrs.  P.  R Aurora 

Elliott,  C.  E Oronogo 

Elliott,  Mrs.  C.  E Oronogo 

Marchbank,  H.  B Joplin 

Fortis,  J.  B.,  Jr Kansas  City 

Gounde,  C.  W Carthage 

Wampler,  W.  W Webb  City 

Ayers,  J.  F St.  Louis 

Newell,  J.  P Carthage 

Malcolmson,  J.  W t Kansas  City 

Jansen,  L.  H Kansas  City 

Young,  L.  E.  .  .  . Rolla 

MICHIGAN. 
Richmond.  N.  S Calumet 

MINNESOTA. 

Winchell,  H , Minneapolis 

Winchell,  Mrs.  H.  .  .  .   Minneapolis 

Brown,  F.  A Duluth 

MISSISSIPPI. 
Roach,  Miss  E Sardis 

MONTANA. 

Galiger,  C. Butte 

Galiger,  Mrs.  C Butte 

NEBRASKA. 

Dorsey,  Geo.  W.  E Fremont 

Oberfelder,  R.  S Fremont 

NEW     YORK. 

Fowler,  S.  N New  York  City 

Porter,  William  M (Madison  Sq.  Garden)  New  York  City 

Ingalls,  W.  R. (505  Pearl  St.)   New  York  City 

NEW    MEXICO. 

Whiteside,  D.  B Cappertoe 

Whiteside,  Mrs    D.  B Cappertoe 

Adams,  A.  K Socorro 

Bent,  Geo.  B Tularosa 

Marschall,  B.  F Albuquerque 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  59 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Stoek,  H.  H. Scrantbn 

Owens,  W.  D Pittsburg 

Wilkins,  W.  O Pittsburg 

Kirkwood,  A.  B Pittsburg 

Weeks,  W.  S Pittsburg 

NEVADA. 

Riepe,  Richard  A Ely 

Ladd,  N.  P '. Carson  City 

Bride,   Edwin   L Reno 

Burk,  P Yerington 

Burk,  Mrs.  P Yerington 

Hanby,  J.  Walter Yerington 

Hanby,  J.  Walter,  M'rs Yerington 

Elkins,  John  T Goldfield 

OHIO. 

Harmon,  B.  H Columbus 

Patrick,  Fred  L Columbus 

Caylor,  Edward  H Columbus 

Bassell,  John  Y Columbus 

Lentz,  John  J Columbus 

Bennan,  E.  H.   .   .   . Cleveland 

White,  F.  Wallace Cleveland 

White,  Mrs.  F.  W Cleveland 

Bartlett,  C.  O Cleveland 

White,  Arthur  L Lima 

OKLAHOMA. 

Flagger,  E.  D Perry 

Flagger,  Mrs.  E.  D Perry 

Gould,  D.  N Norman 

Sidell,  Wm.  T,  . .Bartletsville 

Gault,  D.  A.  .  .  .  .    , Bartletsville 

Gault,  Mrs.  D.  A Bartletsville 

Vore  J.   H Stillwater 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 
Scaif e,  H.  L Clinton 

UTAH. 

Andrew,  W.  B.  . Salt  Lake 

Bradford,  R.  H Salt  Lake 

Dern,  John Salt  Lake 

Joseph,  Harry  S. Salt  Lake 

Lehman,  B.  N.  .  .  .   Salt  Lake 

Riter,  Geo.  W Salt  Lake 

Brimhall,  Geo.  H.  .  . Provo 

Knight,  Jesse. Provo 

Knight,  Mrs.  Jesse   Provo 

'    WASHINGTON. 

Krury,  R.  H Spokane 

Kemp,  Randall  H.  .  .  .  . Spokane 

WEST  VIRGINIA. 

Payne,  Dr.  Henry  M Morgantown 

Paul,  James  W. Charleston 

WISCONSIN. 

Wright,  E.  O .' Milwaukee 

Dugdale,  R.  I Platteville 

Smalley,  S.  E Cuba  City 

Fox,  Morris  F Madison 


60  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

WYOMING. 

Minimn,  A.  E Casper 

Grant,  M.  N Laramie 

Saul,  Henry.  . : Laramie 

Rife,  Ed.  H Rock  Springs 


LIST   OF    MEMBERS   OF  THE    AMERICAN    MINING   CONGRESS. 
Life   Members   Marked    (L). 

Abbott,  A.  F Denver,  Colorado 

Acheson,  Edward  G Niagara  Falls.  New  York 

Adams,  Arthur  K Socorro,   New   Mexico 

Adams,  Everett  F Reno,  Nevada 

Airis,   E.   H Salt   Lake    City,   Utah 

Akers,   C.   H Phoenix,   Arizona 

Alderson,  Victor  C.   (L.)    Golden,  Colorado 

Alexander,  F.  J Denver,  Colorado 

Allen,  C.  A Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Allen,  Watson    Seattle,   Washington 

Ameling,  H.  R St.  Louis,  Missouri 

Anderson,  Chas.  H Denver,  Colorado 

Anderson,  G.  Scott Wallace,  Idaho 

Arkell,  Edwin   Reno,  Nevada 

Armstrong,  L.  K Spokane,  Washington 

Atwood,  Mrs.  E.  C New  York  City 

Auerbach,  S.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Ayers,  Geo.  V.  Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Azbell,  Chas.  C Eaton,  Arkansas 

Bailey,  G.  E :Los  Angeles,   California 

Bailey,  R.  W Denver,  Colorado 

Baker,  E,  P Laramie,  Wyoming 

Baker,  Henry  C Ogden,   Utah 

Baldwin,  M.  M.  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

Bartlett,  C.  O Cleveland,  Ohio 

Bartlett,  Sydney  E. Cheyenne,  Wyoming 

Baumgartner,  Matt  (L.)    Spokane,  Washington 

Becker,  Chas.  M Victor,  Colorado 

Bedell,  S.  A Needles,  California 

Beeler,  Henry  C Cheyenne,    Wyoming 

Beekman,  Edd  A.  Washington,  D.  C. 

Belcher,  J.  R Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Bell,    C.    B Douglas,    Arizona 

Bell,  Edward Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

Bellamy,  Chas.  N Evansville,  Indiana 

Bentley,  L.  B Organ,  New  Mexico 

Benzie,    W.   R Denver,    Colorado 

Bernier,  R.  L Chicago,  Illinois 

Settles,  A.  J.  (L.)    Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Beveridge,  A.  E Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Bidwell,   Geo.   F. : Omaha,    Nebraska 

Blatt,  John  A Lead,   South  Dakota 

Blochberger,  F.  R Portland,  Oregon 

Blumenberg,   Henry   Jr .Daggett,    California 

Borden,  Gail Los  Angeles,  California 

Bowen,  H.  M' Oakland,  California 

Bracking-Ebbley  Inv.  Co Wallace,  Idaho 

Bradbury,  Mrs.  Jennie .Denver,  Colorado 

Brady,  P.  A Greenhorn,  Oregon 

Brandes,  Juan  Felix  Denver,  Colorado 

Bransford,  W.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Bridgman,   W.   E '. Denver,   Colorado 

Brooks,  Alfred  H Washington,  J).   C. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  61 

Brougner,  W Carson   City,   Nevada 

Brown,  C.  T Socorro,  New  Mexico 

Brown,  T.  H Prescott,  Arizona 

Brownlee,  Col.  A.  G.  (L.)  Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Brunton,  D.  W.  (L.) Denver,  Colorado 

Bryant,  W.  G Carterville,   Missouri 

Buckley,  Dr.  E.  R.  (L)    Rolla,  Missouri 

Buie,  Henry  T Buffalo,  Arkansas 

Bunch,    John    A. Harrison,    Arkansas 

Burke,  G.   M Joplin,    Missouori 

Busch  Bros Rhyolite,  Nevada 

Butler,  Edgar  T Denver,   Colorado 

Butler,  Geo.  E Needles,  California 

Butler,  Jos.   G.  Jr Youngstown,   Ohio 

Cable,  Dr.  E.  E Portland,  Oregon 

Caffey,  B.  F Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Calahan,  Henry  C.   (L.)    San  Francisco,  California 

Calavan,  W.  C Redding,   California 

Caldwell,  Bros.  Co Seattle,  Washington 

Caldwell,  Jas.  N Denver,   Colorado 

Calkins  Newspaper  Syndicate    San  Francisco,  California 

Callbreath,   Jas.   F.  Jr Denver,  Colorado 

Campbell,  F.  J Denver,  Colorado 

Campbell,  C.  P Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Canada,  A.  W Carterville,  Missouri 

Cannon,  P.  H Cherry  Creek,  Nevada 

Cantwell,   Harry  J St.    Louis,    Missouri 

Capp,    William    Denver,    Colorado 

Carder,  Jas.  L .Los  Angeles,  California 

Cargo,   L.   M. Denver,   Colorado 

Carpenter,  A.  B Los  Angeles,  California 

Carpenter,   F.    R Denver,    Colorado 

Carrigan,  D.  Custer,  South  Dakota 

Carroll,   Jas Needles,   California 

Carroll,  John   Voctorville,  California 

Carter,  W.  T . .  Los  Angeles,  California 

Gary,  R.  J Denver,   Colorado 

Case,  R.  H Organ,  New  Mexico 

Catlin,  W.  P. Carson   City,   Nevada 

Caulkins,  W.  R Carthage,   Missouri 

Cazin,    Franz Denver,    Colorado 

Chaney,  H.  E Missoula,  Montana 

Chilberg,  J.  E Seattle,  Washington 

Child,  Wm.  H.   (L.)    Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Chittenden,  W.  H Denver,  Colorado 

Clark,  H.  S Butte,  Montana 

Clark,  J.  Ross Los  Angeles,  California 

Clark,  Wm.  F Glover,  Vermont 

Clark,   V.   V Reiter,    Washington 

Clegg,  Dr.  J.  W. Fairview,   Nevada 

Clipper  Mining  Co Seattle,  Washington 

Cobb,  E,   M Chicago,   Illinois 

Colbath,  L.  U Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Colburn,  E.  A.   (L.)    Denver,  Colorado 

Coles,  A.  P El  Paso,  Texas 

Collins,  Glenville  A Seattle  Washington 

Collins,  T.  Shields   Globe,  Arizona 

Comstock,    A.    R Denver,  Colorado 

Comstock,  Chas.  W Denver,  Colorado 

Cooley,  B Galena,  Kansas 

Cooney,    Frank    H Butte,    Montana 

Cooper,  Wm Georgetown,   Colorado 

Coplen,  J.  D Globe,  Arizona 


62  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

Costello,  Frank,  F.    (L.)    Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Cousins,  A.  B Portland,  Oregon 

Crampton,  E,  J Leslie,  Arkansas 

Crandell,  Jas.  H Denver,  Colorado 

Crane,   Chas.   E. Seattle,    Washington 

Crawford,   Geo New  York   City 

Crawford,    G.    H Denver,    Colorado 

Crawford,  Capt.  Jack   Chicago,  Illinois 

Creelman,    G.    R Detroit,    Michigan 

Crouch,  O.  M Portland,  Oregon 

Crowther,  H.  M Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Cullen,   J.  F .  .Los   Angeles,   California 

Cutler,  John  C Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Dahl,  Henry  P Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

Damours,  C.  A Virginia  City,  Montana 

Dana,  L.  N t Joplin,  Missouri 

Daniels;  Wm.  P Denver,  Colorado 

Davis,    Jack    (L)    Goldfield,    Nevada 

Day,  Eugene  R Wallace,  Idaho 

Day,  Harry  L Wallace,  Idaho 

Davis,  Robt.  W.  Jr Silverton,   Colorado 

Degge,  W.  W Boulder,  Colorado 

De  La  Vergne,  E.  M.  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Dempster,  A 

Denair,    John    Needles,    California 

Denver  Eng.  Works  Co.   .  '. Denver,  Colorado 

Dern,  John    Salt  Lake   City,   Utah 

Devereaux,  T.  E Fort  Dodge,  Iowa 

Dickson,  W.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Dignowity,  C.  L Reno,  Nevada 

Dignowity,  F.  A Reno,  Nevada 

Dillman,  L.  C Seattle,  Washington 

Dirks,  Martin  H St.  Joseph,  Missouri 

Dittmar,   M.   E Redding,   California 

Dodge,  Wm.  H Portland,  Oregon 

Dondaldson,    A.    M Denver,    Colorado 

Dondaldson,    W.    N Boise,    Idaho 

Doolittle,  C.  H Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 

Dornbach,  Geo.  W Belleville,    Illinois 

Dorsey,  Geo.  W.  E Fremont,  Nebraska 

Doty,  L.  C Eureka,  Utah 

Douglas,  Dr.  Jas New  York  City 

Downey,  Chas.   J Denver,  Colorado 

Downing,    Chas.    S Denver,  Colorado 

Doyle,  R.  J Rhyolite,  Nevada 

Draper,    Frank    B Chicago,    Illinois 

Dube,  R.  E Denver,  Colorado 

Duncan,  John  A St.  Joseph,  Missouri 

Dunyon,  Newton  A Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Button,  Sam  F Denver,  Colorado 

Dwight,  F.  L Los  Angeles,  California 

Dwyer,   Daniel    Joplin,    Missouri 

Dwyer,    E.    P.    Joplin,    Missouri 

Earle,  Henry    -. .New  York  City 

Eastman,   A.  F Tacoma,   Washington 

Eaton,  Jos.  H Silver  Plume,  Colorado 

Ede,  J.  A La  Salle,  Illinois 

Edwards,  Henry  W Denver,  Colorado 

Elkins,  John  T Kansas   City,   Missouri 

Ellingwood,  C.  O Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Emberson,  A.  L K Denver,  Colorado 

Enderlee,  Edw Forest,  Idaho 

Eng.   &   Mng  Journal    New  York  City 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  63 

Erisman,    J.    F.    Denver,    Colorado 

Estes,  Ambrose  W Yellville,  Arkansas 

Evans,   C.   W Ashland,    Oregon 

Evans,  Evan  E Denver,  Colorado 

Evans,  Mark  G Denver,  Colorado 

Evans,  R.   J Salt  Lake   City,   Utah 

Everett,  Thos.  B Denver,  Colorado 

Ewing,    Thos.    (L.)    Vivian,    Arizona 

Ewing,    W.    E. Vivian,    Arizona 

Fellows  Walter  C. Needles,  California 

Felt,  J.  H Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Ferguson,  N.  E.    Needles,  California 

Fergusson,  S.  W San  Francisco,  California 

Ferry,  W.  Mont. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Fiduciary  Company,  The  Chicago,  Illinois 

Finch,    Marcus Denver,    Colorado 

Finnerty,    Michael Denver,    Colorado 

Fletcher,    Geo.    T Joplin,    Missouri 

Fletcher,  John  D Medford,   Oregon 

Fletcher,  John  G Kennett,  California 

Foley,  W.  R Denver,   Colorado 

Foote,  Arthur  De  Wint   Grass  Valley,  California 

Foote,  Robt.  W Breckenridge,  Colorado 

Foster,  Ernest  Le  Neve   Denver,  Colorado 

Forbes,  A.  M Tucson,  Arizona 

Francis,  W.   E Tucson,   Arizona 

Fredericks,  L.  G Buffalo,  Arkansas 

Fukuda,  R Berkeley,  California 

Gabrowsky,  Theo. Howardsville,   Colorado 

Gallagher,    Jas.    F Joplin,  Missouri 

Gardner,  F.  L Salt  Lake   City,  Utah 

Gardner,   Percy   S Reno,   Nevada 

Garm,    J.    E Joplin,  Missouri 

Gatch,  Elias  S.   (L.)    St.  Louis,  Missouri 

George,  Jas.  A.  Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Gifford,  A.  W El   Paso,    Texas 

Gilbert,  M.  P.  (L.)   Los  Angeles,  California 

Givens,  &  Co.  J.  G Seattle,  Washington 

Godfrey,  Jas.  J Seattle,  Washington 

Godshall,   L.   D 7 Needles,   Califori*a 

Godthorpe,  Edwin  T. Beriton,  Wisconsin 

Goodale,  C.  W. Butte,   Montana 

Goodall,  Arthur   Drytown,  California 

Goode,  H.  W Portland,  Oregon 

Goodier,    G.    P.    Denver,    Colorado 

Goodsell,  B.  W Chicago,  Illinois 

Granberg,  H.  O.   (L.)    Oshkosh,  Wisconsin 

Grant,  M.  N Laramie,  Wyoming 

Graves,  W.  H Denver,  Colorado 

Gray,  John   (L.)    Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Gray,  W.  A.  Winlock,  Washington 

Greenough,    W.   D Mullan,    Idaho 

Gregg,  H.  H.  (L) Joplin,  Missouri 

Gregg,  Mng.  Inv.  Co Denver,  Colorado 

Grier,  T.  J. Lead,  South  Dakota 

Grigsby,    W.    W. Skidmore,    Missouri 

Gunnell,  Alva  H Grant's  Pass,  Oregon 

Hale,    Irving    Denver,    Colorado 

Hall,    Edwin    Chicago,    Illinois 

Halloran,  W.  J Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Hampton,  W.  H Grant's  Pass,  Oregon 

Hand,  J.  H Yellville,  Arkansas 

Hanson,   Chas.  F Douglas,   Arizona 


04  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Hanson,   Otto Salem,    Oregon 

Hanson,    Rasmus    Silverton,    Colorado 

Hard,  F.  J Bohemia,   Oregon 

Hardy,  W.  C Hazel  Green,  Wisconsin 

Harrison,  A.  W Silverton,  Colorado 

Haworth,  Erasmus Lawrence,  Kansas 

Hayes,  C.  Willard Washington,  D.  C. 

Heigho,  E.   M Weiser,   Idaho 

Heizer,  D.  N.   Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Henderson,   H.    B Columbus,    Kansas 

Herr,  H.  L Galena,  Illinois 

Herrick,    R.    L Denver,  Colorado 

Hiller,    Albert    L .- Denver,  Colorado 

Holman,  Austin   T Victor,-Colorado 

Holmes,  Dr.  J.  A Washington,   D.   C. 

Holmes,  Edwin  F Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Holman,  G.  P Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Holmes,  Susan  Emery   Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Hoofer,  A.  O.  .  .  / Grant's  Pass,  Oregon 

Horse  Shoe  Mng.  Co Seattle,  Washington 

House,    S.  R Denver,   Colorado 

Houtz,    J.    C Rhyolite,    Nevada 

Howell,  F.  D.  Jr Los  Angeles,  California 

Howell,  Jos Wellsville,  Utah 

Hubbard,  M.  E Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Humphries,    C.    K. Seattle,    Washington 

Husted,  Jas.  D.    Denver,   Colorado 

Hutchinson,  Chas.   T San  Francisco,   California 

Hutton,  Jas Waukesha,  Wisconsin 

Hymer,  J.   P Denver,   Colorado 

Iglehart,  Wm Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Ingalls,  J.  Aaron   Reno,  Nevada 

Ingham,  E.   H Etigeiie,   Oregon 

Irvine,  Thos.  E Boulder,  Colorado 

Ish,  Marvin  E Goldfield,   Nevada 

Ivey,  J.  W Seattle,  Washington 

Jacobs,   A.   L Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Jacobson,    Tony    Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Jackling,   D.    C.    + Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

•flkmes,  Evan  Shade Denver,  Colorado 

Jameson,    Wm.    L Denver,  Colorado 

Jamison,  W.  W Greensburg,  Pennsylvania 

Janes,  L.  M Carterville,  Missouri 

Jansen,  L,  H Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Jarrett,  Geo.  L Platteville,  Wisconsin 

Jarrett,  John  G Cuba  City,  Wisconsin 

Johnson,    J.    B Denver,  Colorado 

Johnston,  C.  J Denver,  Colorado 

Jones,  J.  I Cottage   Grove,   Oregon 

Jones,  Lloyd   Kenyon    Denver,   Colorado 

Jones,  W.  A.    t . . .  Mineral  Point,  Wisconsin 

Joseph,  Harry  S. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Keady,  L.   Y Portland,   Oregon 

Keelyn,  Dr.  Jas.  E Chicago,  Illinois 

Keith,  David   (L.)    Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Kendall,  W.  L Cleveland,  Ohio 

Kendrick,  W.  F Denver,  Colorado 

Kennedy  Bros Salt  Lake   City,  Utah 

Kerr,  J.  E , San  Francisco,  California 

Keyting,  Wm ^ Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

King,    Fred    B Bridgeport,    Connecticut 

Kinkead,  Jas.  H.   Virginia  City,  Nevada 

Kinney,  M'.  J Portland,  Oregon 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  65 

Kinney,  R.  C Portland,  Oregon 

Kinncy,    W.  2, Silverton,    Colorado 

Kirby,  John  A.   (L.)    Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Kirk,  Morris  P '. El  Paso,  Texas 

Klinefelter,  P.  K Needles,   California 

Knight,  Jesse   (L.)    Provo,  Utah 

Knowles,  W.  H Los  Angeles,  California* 

Kountz,  Louis  K Goldfield,  Nevada 

Krepps,  J.  E Los  Angeles,  California 

Krakauer,  Adolph.  .  .  .  '. El  Paso,  Texas 

Kyle,  T.  D Leadville,  Colorado 

Lake,   C.   F Cardinal,   Colorado 

Lamb,  Wm.  A Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Lament,  E.  M Canon  City,  Colorado 

Lancaster,    Henry    M Wallace,    Idaho 

Lane,  Chas.  D.  (L.)    Seattle,  Washington 

Lane,  Martin  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania 

Largent,  J.  A Rhyolite,  Nevada 

Lawton,   M.  J Joplin,    Missouri 

Leary,  Chas  C Thorpe,  Nevada 

Lee,  Chester  F '. Seattle,  Washington 

Lee,    J.    C. Portland,    Oregon 

Leebrick,  W.  S Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Leftwich,  Thos.  J Fort  Collins,  Colorado 

Lennox,  Wm.    Colorado   Springs,  Colorado 

Leonard,  J.  M Joplin,  Missouri 

Le  Roy,  J.  L Portland,  Oregon 

Leschen  &  Sons  Rope  Co.,  A Denver,  Colorado 

Lewandowski,  J.  A.    Douglas,  Arizona 

Lewis,  S.  J Needles,  California 

Lightcap,  R.  L Hazel  Green,  Wisconsin 

Logan,  G.  W Denver,  Colorado 

Lomiester,  Frank Leadville,   Colorado 

Longhenry,  Edw.  G Benton,  Wisconsin 

Loose,  C.  E Provo,  Utah 

Lund,  S Carson  City,  Nevada 

Lundberg,  Alex. Bohemia,  Oregoon 

Lynch,  J.   H Butte,   Montana 

McCaffery,  Richard  S Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

M'cCarthy,  E.  T ^ Baxter  Springs,  Kansas 

McCarthy,  Jas.  F Wallace,  Idaho 

McCarthy,  P.  B Rapid  City,  South  Dakota 

McChrystal,  J.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

McClelland,  Geo.  E Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

McCone,  Alex.  J Reno,  Nevada 

McCormick,  C.  K Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

McCullough,   A.    Tacoma,    Washington 

McDonald,  D.  C Ely,  Nevada 

McDonald,  Ed Carterville,  Missouri 

M'cDonald,  J.  R Rhyolite,  Nevada 

McDonald,  Sam  C Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

McDowell,  W.  W Butte,  Montana 

McGraw,   John   H Seattle,    Washington 

Mclntire.  A.  W. Everett,  Washington 

McKinnie,  J.  R Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

McLean,  M.   H Morenci,  Arizona 

McLeocl,   D.    L Portland,    Oregon 

M'cMullan,    John    ! Goldfield,    Nevada 

McMurray,  John  H Denver,  Colorado 

McNeil,   John    Denver,  Colorado 

McQuarrie,  W.  F Denver,  Colorado 

McWeeney,   P.   J Albany,   New   York 

MacVichie,  Duncan  (L.)    .  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


06  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

Magnan,  A.  U Denver,  Colorado 

Maguire,   Don Ogden,   Utah 

Malcolmson,  Jas.  W Kansas  City,  Missouri 

M'ann,    Fred   A Joplin,    Missouri 

Markwell,  J.  Fred Wallace,  Idaho 

Marshall-Ellis    Inv.    Co Denver,    Colorado 

Martin,  E.  L. Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Martin,  R.  L.  (L.) Denver,  Colorado 

Mason,  L.  C Independence,  Kansas 

Mattheissen  &  Hegeler La  Salle,  Illinois 

May,  Ernest Lead,  South  Dakota 

Mayham,  H,  J New  York  City 

Meese,  Geo.  C Joplin,  Missouri 

Menardi,  J.  B Reno,   Nevada 

Merchant,  Jos,   , Walla  Walla,  Washington 

Merchant,.  Wm.  F.   Walla  Walla,  Washington 

Middlekauff,  E.  D Plainfield,  New  Jersey 

Millar,  H.  J Joplin,   Missouri 

Miller,  Cyrus Denver,  Colorado 

Miller,   David    South    Bend,    Indiana 

Miller,  Fred  A. Laramie,   Wy.oming 

Miller,  L.  F -. Joplin,   Missouri 

Miller,  W.  A Denver,  Colorado 

Mills,  W.  F.  R Denver,  Colorado 

Mine  &  Smelter  Sup.  Co. .Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Miracle,  G.  W Seattle,  Washington 

Mitchell,  Co.,  The  C.  E Spokane,  Washington 

Mitchell,    M'cKinley    Gervis,    Oregon 

Mitchell,  S.  Duffield    Carthage,   Missouri 

Mitchell,  W.  H Seneca,   Missouri 

Moffat,  D.  H.   (L.)    Denver,  Colorado 

Monroe,  Edward Boulder,  Colorado 

Moore,    F.    Gushing    Wallace,    Idaho 

Moritz,  Jacob    Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 

Morphy,  C.  W Granite,  Hill,  Oregon 

Morris,  Chas.  H Georgetown,  Colorado 

Morris,  F.  D.    Montrose,  Pennsylvania 

Morris,  Howard  G : Denver,  Colorado 

Morrison,  W.  O Denver,  Colorado 

Mosier,  Frank,   Carterville,  Missouri 

Mt.  Baker  &   Shukson   Mng.   Co Seattle,  Washington 

Mueller,  Dr.  Victor  F Milwaukee,  Wisconsin 

Mudd,  Seeley,  W Los  Angeles,  California 

Muir,  Thos.  K Portland,  Oregon 

Mundy,  J.  A Colorado  Springs,   Colorado 

Munroe,   H.    S.    Congress    Junction,    Arizona 

Murray,  J.  J Orogrande,  New  Mexico 

Myers,    Clarence Chehalis,    Washington 

National  Development  Co Salt  Lake  City  Utah 

Nay,    Geo Needles,    California 

Newcomb,   B.    M' San   Francisco,    California 

Newell,  J.  W Leadville,  Colorado 

Newmeyer,   C.   E Denver,    Colorado 

Nicholson,  H.  H Lincoln,  Nebraska 

Nicholson,   Samuel    (L.) Leadville,   Colorado 

Nix.  Geo.  M New   York  City 

Noon,  Thos.  F Peru,  Illinois 

Norcross,  C.  A Reno,  Nevada 

Nordquist,  John  H.  . .Wallace,  Idaho 

Northern  Exploration  Co Seattle,  Washington 

Northwest  Mining  News Spokane,  Washington 

Norton,  E.  A Denver,  Colorado 

Oberndorfer,    J Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  67 

O'Brien,   W.   M. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Orem,    W.    C. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Packer,  H.  G Joplin,  Missouri 

Page,  Alfred Wardner,   Idaho 

Paige,  N.  Jr Joplin,  Missouri 

Palace  Drug  Co. Joplin,   Missouri 

Palmer,  Edw.   Vose    Denver,   Colorado 

Pape,  J.  B Cottage  Grove,  Oregon 

Parker,  E.  W. Washington,  D.   C. 

Parker,  M.  B El  Paso,  Texas 

Patrick,   Fred  L Columbus,    Ohio 

Patrick,   Jas.   M Denver,  Colorado 

Pearl,  E.  H.    . . . Denver,  Colorado 

Pease,  L.  A Slater,  Colorado 

Peck,  I.  F Denver,  Colorado 

Phelps,   Aug.   H Denver,  Colorado 

Phillips,  Wm.  B Birmingham,  Alabama 

Phinney,  Frederick  V • Wallace,  Idaho 

Phipps,  S.  A.   Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

Piatt  &  Heath  Co Helena  Montana 

Playter,  C.  C .' Joplin,  Missouri 

Playter,  Geo.  H Boston,  Massachusetts 

Playter,    Franklin Boston,  Massachusetts 

Plummer,  Frank Washington,  D.  C. 

Pollard,  Ira Denver,  Colorado 

Pollock,  Jas.  A Salt  Lake   City,  Utah 

Pompeney,  Dr.  Jos Frontenac,  Kansas 

Power-Christy  &  Co , GoldHeld,  Nevada 

Powers,  O.  W Salt  Lake   City,  Utah 

Prather,  H.  R Joplin,  Missouri 

Preston,  W.  J. Silver  Cliff,  Colorado 

Quigley,  E.  D Denver,  Colorado 

Randolph,  Epes    (L)    , .Tucson,   Arizona 

Rapp,  Abram   Cripple  Creek,  Colorado 

Ray,  L.  O Rhyolite,  Nevada 

Read,  H.  Clay Big  Springs,  Texas 

Read,  T.  A Reno,  Nevada 

Reese,  Mrs.  Clara  Clark  (L)   Denver,  Colorado 

Reinert,    Lewis    A Denver,  Colorado 

Reinert,  E.  G.  (L) Denver,  Colorado 

Reinert,  N.  A.   Denver,  Colorado 

Reitler,  Charles  W Denver,  Colorado 

Renshaw  &  Co.,  Paris  H Wallace,  Idaho 

Renshaw,  W.  E. Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Reppy,  W.  E Carl  Junction,  Missouri 

Reynolds,  Chas.  A Sneffels,  Colorado 

Rice,  Wm.  V Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Richards,  A.  G Laramie,  Wyoming 

Richards,  Bartlett   (L)    Ellsworth,   Nebraska 

Richards,  J.  H.   (L)    Boise,  Idaho 

Ridge,  W.  R .Reno,  Nevada 

Riebe,  Ed Redding,   California 

Riedel,  H.  A Denver,  Colorado 

Riepe,  Richard  A , Ely,   Nevada 

Riordan,   D.    M'.    ....New   York    City 

Risque,  J.  B Salt  Like  City,  Utah 

Riter,  Geo.  W Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Roberts,  Jno.  G. Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Robinson,  W.  J :..  .Joplin,  Missouri 

Rodgers  &  Rogers    Chicago,   Illinois 

Roeder,    A.    B Denver,  Colorado 

Roller,  Arthur  H Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 


68  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Rooklidge,  Chas.  D Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Ross,  Beauregard Denver,  Colorado 

Ross,  J.  B Silverton,  Colorado 

Root,  L.  V.    . . Needles,   California 

Royce,   W.   K Rich    Hill,  Missouri 

Royse,  O.  D Joplin,  Missouri 

Rummell,  A.  G Denver,  Colorado 

Samuels,  H.  F Wallace,  Idaho 

Sachs,  Claude   Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Sanders,  Frank  T Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Sapp,  W.  F Galena,  Kansas 

Scaife,  H.  L.    Clinton,  South  Carolina 

Schader,  Carl  F.  (L)    . . Los  Angeles,  California 

Scheii,  C.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Schermerhorn,  E.  B Galena,  Kansas 

Schnitzel,  Henry Lead,  South  Dakota 

Schwan,  Gustave    Murray,  Utah 

Scott,  J.  B. Fort  Jones,  California 

Seeman,  Henry  I Denver,  Colorado 

Shane,  W.  H Bohemia,  Oregon 

Shannon,  C.  M.  (L)   Los  Angeles,  California 

Sherman,  M.  H Los  Angeles,  California 

Shinn,   Jos.   A.    s Leadville,  Colorado 

Shomon,  J.  . . . Galena,  Kansas 

Shull,  W.  L. Denver,  Colorado 

Siegwein,  Jno Weiser,  Idaho 

Sierra  Madre  Mng.  Co Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Siegel,  F.  L Denver,  Colorado 

Sigafoos,  R.  B Denver,  Colorado 

Simmons,  A.  J Deadwcod,  South  Dakota 

Singleton,  Jno Los  Angeles,  California 

Siren  Gold  Mining  Co.    Greeley,  Colorado 

Sessions,  E.  A ' Portland,  Oregon 

Skeels,  Alfred  Central  City,  Colorado 

Smedley  Steam  Pump  Co Dubuque,  Iowa 

Smith,  Claude  M Goldfield,  Nevada 

Smith,  Edmund  Valdez,  Alaska 

Smith,  Frank  Clemes  Sault  Ste  Marie,  Ontario,  Canada 

Smith,  Franklin  W Bisbee,  Arizona 

Smith,  Geo.  Otis  Washington,  D.  C. 

Smith,  Jas Carterville,   Missouri 

Smith  J.  Fewson,  Jr Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Smith,  Jno.  H Denver,  Colorado 

Smith,  Oscar  J Reno,  Nevada 

Smith,  W.  H Burke,  Idaho 

Snapp,  F.  T Joplin,  Missouri 

Snavely,   R.    M '. Denver,  Colorado 

Snoqualmie  Copper  Mng  Co Seattle,  Washington 

South,  Frank  M.    Grants   Pass,   Oregon 

Speer,  Alex  (L)   Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Sperry,   Edwin  A Denver,  Colorado 

Spry,  Jno.  C.   (L)    Chicago,  Illinois 

Standard  Reduction  &  Development  Co Seattle,  Washington 

Star,  Sol     Deadwcod.  South  Dakota 

Steams-Roger  Mfg.  Co Denver,  Colorado 

Stebbins,  A.  H Little  Rock,  Arkansas 

Steele,  Jno.  A Lane  City,  Nevada 

Steele,    J.    L Landlock,  Alaska 

Steele,  T.  J. Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Steff ner,   S.  W Portland,    Oregon 

Stevenson  A.  M. Denver,  Colorado 

Stevenson,  W.  L Wadsworth,  Nevada 

Stewart,  W.  B Portland,  Oregon 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  69 

Stone,  W.  B Galena,  Kansas 

Storm,  Lynn  W Valdez,  Alaska 

Straub,  Frank  Denver,  Colorado 

Sultana-Arizona  Copper  Co Chicago,  Illinois 

Sumner,  C.   M •. Denver,  Colorado 

Swart,   W.  A Denver,  Colorado 

Sweek,  Alex   . Portland,   Oregon 

Swift,  J.  V Benton,  Wisconsin 

Swindler,  F.  P Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Talbert,  High    Carterville,  Missouri 

Tarbell,  W.  S Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Taylor,  Gibson Los  Angeles,  California 

Taylor,  Harrie  L.    (L)    Goldfield,  Nevada 

Temple,  Geo.  B Joplin,  Missouri 

Temple,  W.  O ,. Denver,  Colorado 

Terry,   M'.   C Carterville,   Missouri 

Thatcher,  G.  W Rhyolite,  Nevada 

Thomas,  B Seattle,   Washington 

Thomas,  Gomer   Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Thomas,  W.  J Denver,  Colorado 

Tibbals,  Wm.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Tibbitt,  Alton  W Seattle,  Washington 

Timothy,   Thos Baxter  Springs,  Kansas 

Travers,   Richard   P Chicago,   Illinois 

Traylor,  Jno.  A Denver,  Colorado 

Trenton  Iron  Co Denver,  Colorado 

Triangle  Mng.  &  Dev.  Co Missoula,  Montana 

Trojanovitch,  A Globe,  Arizona 

Tulloch,  Seymour  W .  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Tumbach,  J.  H Ouray,  Colorado 

Turner,  J.  H Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Tuttle,    Sidney    Janesville,    Wisconsin 

Underbill,  H.  B.  Jr San  Francisco,  California 

Underwood,  Pierce Chicago,  Illinois 

Union  Iron  Works  ' San  Francisco,  California 

Vaughan.  B.   L. Needles,    California 

Vest,  T.  J Galena,  Kansas 

Vincent,  Major  F.  C Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Voorheis,  E.  C Sutter  Creek,  California 

Walden,  Chas Victor,  Colorado 

Walker,  M.  H. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Wall,  E.  A Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Walsh,   Thos.  F.    (L)    Littleton,  Colorado 

Walters,  Wm.  J Portland,  Oregon 

Ward,  W.  S. Denver,  Colorado 

Wampler,  W.  W.  Webb  City,  Missouri 

Walton,  Wm. Higbee.  Missouri 

Ward,  Jno.  G Albany,  New  York 

Warwick,  A.  W Choix,  Sinaloa,  Mexico 

Watson,  J.  Frank Portland,  Oregon 

Watson,  J.  W Baxter  Springs,  Kansas 

Watts,  L.  H Baxter  Springs,  Kansas 

Weaver,  Geo.  B Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Webb.  I.  A Deadwood,  South  Dakota 

Webber,  W.  H Fairview,  Nevada 

Wells,  Henry  F Boston,  Massachusetts 

Welsford,  J.  V Cuba  City,  Wisconsin 

West,  Jno.  H Needles,  California 

Westinghouse  Mach.  Co Denver,  Colorado 

White,  Arthur  L.  (L)    Lima,  Ohio 

White,  E.  L Denver,  Colorado 

White,  F.  Wallace  (L)    Cleveland,  Ohio 

Whitman,  J.  A M'edford,  Oregon 


70  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Wheeler,  H.  K Ely,  Nevada 

Whitman,  A.  H. San  Pedro,  Chihuahua,  Mexico 

Whitford,  O.  B Butte,  Montana 

White,  Robt.  H Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

White,  J.  J. Georgetown,  Colorado 

Wilber,  F.  A Joplin,  Missouri 

Wilcox,  E.  J Denver,  Colorado 

Williams,  E.  W Denver,  Colorado 

Williamson,  J.  D. Idaho  Springs,  Colorado 

Wilson,  Geo.  B .- Searchlight,  Nevada 

Wingfield,  Geo.  (L)   Goldfield,  Nevada 

Wire,  Frank  E Liberty ville,  Illinois 

Wolfe,  Leon  B Lewisberg,  Pennsylvania 

Wolff,  Jno.  R Boulder,  Colorado 

Wood,  Guilford  S Denver,  Colorado 

Wood,  J.  D.  (L) ." Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Woods,  F.  M Victor,  Colorado 

Woodward,  Felix  J - Denver,  Colorado 

Wourms,  Jno.  H, Wallace,  Idaho 

Wright,  E.  M Union,  Oregon 

Wright,  Jno.  M.  (L)   ,. Oakland,  California 

Wright,  Willis , Indianopolis,  Indiana 

Young,  Lewis  E Rolla,  Missouri 

Zeitfuchs,  E  Wallace,  Idaho 

Zimmerman,  Ed   Harrison,  Arkansas 

[(L)  following  name  indicates  life  members.] 

RICHARD  A.  RIEPE  of  Nevada:  I  rise  on  a  question  privilege.  I  see 
it  stated  by  the  morning  papers  here  that  it,  is  announced  that  Reno, 
Nevada,  is  out  of  the  race  for  the  privilege  of  having  the  next  session  of 
the  Mining  Congress  and  that  we  have  withdrawn  in  favor  of  Columbus. 
That  is  not  the  case.  When  Nevada  withdraws  it  will  withdraw  in  favor 
of  Douglas,  Arizona.  (Applause.) 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:  We  will  now  listen  to  the  reading  of  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  smelter  rates  by  Senator  Josephs  of  Utah. 

H.  L.  JOSEPH:  I  want  to  state  first  how  this  committee  came  to  be 
appointed  and  how  the  report  was  made  up.  A  year  ago  Senator  De  La 
Vergne  of  Colorado,  in  a  paper  read  by  him  at  the  session  in  Denver,  called 
the  attention  of  the  Congress  to  grievances  that  the  ore  producers  of  Crip- 
ple Creek  had  against  the  so-called  smelter  trust.  At  that  session,  the 
matter  was  thoroughly  discussed  and  it  was  there  found  that  the  griev- 
ances were  not  local.  They  seemed  to  spring  up  from  all  over  the  country. 
Hence  a  resolution  was  introduced  in  the  Congress  to  this  effect:  "Re- 
solved that  the  President  appoint  at  his  convenience,  a  committee  of  five 
to  consider  the  relations  between  the  ore  producers  and  the  smelter  in- 
terests and  report  on  the  same  at  the  next  session  of  the  Congress,  and 
also  reports  at  intervals  to  the  President  and  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Congress  if  this  committee  so  desires.  This  resolution  was  passed  after 
discussion  and  the  following  named  members  or  delegates  were  appointed 
on  that  committee:  E.  A.  Colburn  of  Denver,  Chairman;  Senator  De  La 
Vergne  of  Colorado  Springs,  George  W.  Riter  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Dr.  L.  D. 
Godshall  of  Needles,  California,  and  H.  S.  Joseph  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 
This  committee  met  in  Denver.  It  had  daily  sessions  for  four  days.  It  in- 
terviewed a  great  many  ore  producers.  It  received  letters  and  other  com- 
munications, both  locally  in  Colorado  and  as  far  north  as  Alaska.  The 
committee  than  authorized  the  Secretary  to  formulate  a  request  to  be  sent 
out  to  each  and  every  ore  producer  which  had  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  Secretary  throughout  the  United  States,  and  we  regret  to  say  that  re- 
sponses to  this  communication  were  not  as  plentiful  as  they  should  have 
been  when  you  come  to  consider  the  importance  of  this  question.  How- 
ever, we  received  some  100  responses.  The  committee  meetings  were 
fully  attended,  and  within  the  last  two  weeks  part  of  the  committee  held 
another  meeting  in  Denver  and  the  report  was  agreed  upon  in  part,  to  be 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  71 

approved  of  by  the  entire  committee  on  the  assemblage  of 
this  Congress  here  during  this  week.  Judge  Colburn  who 
was  to  present  this  report  as  chairman  of  the  committee, 
was  unavoidable  detained  on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family 
and  hence  could  not  be  here.  The  duty  of  presenting  this  report  then 
devolved  upon  me  and  I  am  here  to  read  it  to  you.  There  Is  a  lot  in  the  re- 
port that  ought  to  be  digested  by  every  party  interested.  We  had  in- 
tended to  have  this  report  printed  for  distribution,  but  owing  to  the 
fact  that  we  did  not  have  it  prepared  before  coming  here,  we  could  not  do 
so. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  as  follows: 


REPORT  ON  THE  MUTUAL  RELATIONS  AND  GRIEVANCES  OF  ORE 
PRODUCERS  AND  CUSTOM  SMELTERS. 

To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  American  Mining  Congress: 

Introductory — In  submitting  this  report,  the  committee  desires  to  state 
at  the  outset  that  the  subject  assigned  to  us  is  rather  large,  complicated 
and  difficult  of  treatment  for  reasons  which  are  very  obvious  to  us  and 
may  become  plain  to  all  before  the  report  is  finished. 

The  work  of  this  committee  has  been  considered  almost  entirely  from 
the  standpoint  of  the  ore  producers  in  the  West,  where  the  problems  of 
mining  are  more  complex  than  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  Mining  ven- 
tures in  the  West  involve  difficulties  and  hazards,  the  "only  compensa- 
tion for  which  lies  in  the  richness  of  such  ore  deposits  as  may  eventually 
be  found.  Deep  shafts,  long  tunnels  and  drifts,  expensive  hoisting  and 
pumping  plants,  costly  supplies,  difficult  transportation — all  of  these 
things  impose  heavy  burdens  on  the  mine  operator  which  he  cannot  af- 
ford to  assume  unless  he  has  a  regular  market  for  his  output  of  ores.  To 
him,  therefore,  the  smelting  question  is  a  most  vital  one. 

The  complaints  that  have  been  made  to  the  committee  have  come, 
in  the  main,  from  the  western  ore  producers,  who  are  obliged  to  sell  their 
product  in  markets  where  there  is  little  or  no  competition.  These  com- 
plaints have  been  directed,  most  of  them,  against  the  American  Smelting 
and  Refining  Company  and  its  allies,  popularly  known  as  "the  Smelting 
Trust"  by  whom  nearly  all  of  the  important  custom  smelting  plants  in  the 
United  States  are  controlled.  The  mine  owner  who  wishes  to  sell  his 
product  must  accept  the  best  offer  he  can  get,  and  in  order  to  insure  a 
market  for  his  ores,  he  must  enter  into  a  contract  under  which  his  output 
for  a  long  period  in  advance  goes  to  the  purchasing  smelter  and  is  paid 
for  in  accordance  with  terms  specified  in  the  contract.  Under  such  condi- 
tions there  is  nothing  to  prevent  the  ore  buyer  from  exacting  as  much 
tribute  as  the  traffic  will  bear. 

In  considering  the  complaints  that  have  been  filed  with  the  com- 
mittee, we  have  tried  to  bear  in  mind  that  custom  smelting  is  a  legiti- 
mate industry  and  is  entitled  to  recognition  as  such.  We  must  remember 
that  the  owner  of  a  smelting  plant  cannot  afford  to  buy  ores  unless  they 
are  of  such  nature  that  he  can  utilize  them  and  get  the  metals  from  them 
within  a  reasonable  length  of  time.  He  is  entitled  to  a  fair  return  for 
the  money  invested  in  the  business,  including,  of  course,  the  money  repre- 
sented by  ores  awaiting  treatment,  product  tied. up  in  process  of  reduc- 
tion, and  metals  awaiting  sale.  Perhaps  he  is  entitled  to  an  allowance 
for  possible  fall  in  metal  prices  while  he  is  getting  the  product  in  shape 
for  the  market,  although  in  the  long  run  prices  are  as  apt  to  rise  as  to 
fall.  His  problem  is  to  roast  off  the  volatile  elements,  to  flux  off  the 
worthless  earthy  dross,  to  save  the  metals  as  a  base  bullion  which  can  then 
be  put  through  a  refining  process  for  the  purpose  of  separating  the  val- 
uable metals  from  one  another  and  -finally  to  sell  the  refined  product  to 
consumers. 

It  should  be  noted  that  in-  lead  smelting,  as  practiced  in  the  West, 
the  lead,  silver  and  gold  are  saved  as  bullion  and  that  a  by-product  is 
made  from  which  the  copper  can  be  recovered.  In  copper  smelting,  the 
copper,  silver  and  gold  are  saved,  but  no  recovery  is  made  of  any  lead 


72  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

that  may  be  present.  In  neither  of  these  processes  is  there  any  attempt  to 
save  other  elements  in  the  ore  such  as  zinc,  antimony,  arsenic,  etc.;  on 
the  contrary,  these  elements  are  looked  upon  as  objectionable,  either 
because  extra  expense  is  entailed  in  getting  rid  of  them,  or  because  in 
disappearing  they  carry  off  precious  metals  to  an  alarming  extent.  In 
practice,  complete  recovery  of  the  valuable  metals  is  not  made.  There- 
fore, in  buying-  ores,  the  smelter  does  not  expect  to  pay  the  ore  producer 
for  greater  percentages  of  the  metals  than  he  can  recover;  he  cannot  pay 
the  full  market  price  for  the  metals  without  first  deducting  sums  sufficient 
to  transport  his  product  to  the  refinery,  to  pay  the  cost  of  refining,  the 
cost  of  transporting  refined  metal  to  the  market,  and  the  additional  costs 
of  brokerage,  interest,  insurance,  etc.  He  is  entitled  to  charge  for  roasting 
off  the  volatile  elements  in  the  ore  and  for  slagging  off  the  earthy  dross.  If, 
in  order  to  make  the  slag,  he  is  compelled  to  buy  barren  limestone,  iron, 
etc.,  he  in  entitled  to  charge  for  the  cost  of  these  materials  and  for  the 
cost  of  handling  this  additional  stuff  in  the  furnace.  If,  after  all  this,  he 
exacts  a  fair  profit  and  does  it  without  subterfuge,  the  ore  producer  should 
not  complain. 

Tenor  of  Complaints. 

But  the  objection  is  made  that  the  methods  of  ore  buyers  are  not  al- 
ways fair.  Summarizing  the  complaints  that  have  been  made  to  the  com- 
mittee, we  find  them  to  embrace: 

1.  Excessive    deductions   for    smelting   losses    and   for   refining   and 
selling  costs. 

2.  Unsatisfactory  settlements  on  account     of     arbitrary  valuations 
placed  by  the  smelters  upon  different  metals. 

3.  Exorbitant  smelting  charges. 

4.  Arbitrary  and  unfair  rules  governing  the  sampling  and  assaying 
of  ores. 

5.  Questionable  tactics  to  stifle  and  forestall  competition. 

Relief  Through  Competition. 

If  any  or  all  of  these  things  are  true,  what  can  the  ore  producer  do 
about  it?  Turning  to  the  Salt  Lake  valley  of  Utah,  where  there  seems  to 
be  least  cause  for  complaint,  we  find  a  number  of  independent  smelting 
plants  which  were  built  by  private  concerns  for  the  purpose  of  treating 
the  ores  from  their  own  mines  and  which  were  afterwards  enlarged  in 
order  to  handle  custom  business.  These  plants  are  now  formidable  rivals 
of  "the  trust."  Under  the  stimulus  of  competition  the  smelting  industry 
in  the  Salt  Lake  valley  has  advanced  commercially  and  technically  to  such 
an  extent  that  this  is  now  the  most  important  smelting  center  in  the 
West.  Moreover,  this  competition  has  brought  substantial  relief  to  the  ore 
producer  who  has  no  smelting  plant  of  his  own. 

Ore  producers  in  other  parts  of  the  West  will  therefore  be  glad  to  learn 
on  what  basis  ores  are  bought  and  sold  in  the  Salt  Lake  valley.  By  per- 
mission of  certain  producers,  we  recite  below  the  terms  of  existing  con- 
tracts for  the  sale  of  their  output  or  ores.  In  individual  instances,  and  for 
exceptional  ores,  even  better  terms  than  these  have  been  obtained.  All 
transactions  it  might  be  well  to  explain,  are  based  on  the  net  ton  of 
2,000  pounds  avoirdupois,  taking  the  net  weight  of  the  ore  after  deducting 
for  moisture.  The  term  "unit"  means  one  per  cent,  or  twenty  pounds  to 
each  ton;  the  term  "ore"  means  the  product  shipped  to  the  smelter, 
whether  it  be  crude  ore  or  mill  concentrates. 

Gold  contained  in  the  ores  in  question  is  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  $19.50 
per  troy  ounce.  No  gold  is  paid  for  when  the  assay  shows  less  than 
0.03  ounce  per  ton. 

Silver — ninety-five  per  cent,  of  the  silver  obtained  in  the  ore,  as 
shown  by  fire  assay,  is  paid  for  at  the  New  York  "official"  price  on  the  date 
of  the  first  assay. 

Copper — All  copper  contained  in  the  ore,  in  excess  of  0.5  unit  (ten 
pounds  per  ton  of-  ore)  is  paid  for  at  the  ruling  wholesale  price  of  elec- 
trolytic copper  in  the  New  York  market  for  the  previous  week,  deducting 
therefrom  2%  cents  per  pound.  If,  however,  the  ore  happens  to  contain 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  73 

lead  in  excess  of  three  units,  such  ores  are  treated  in  a  lead  furnace,  mak- 
ing a  more  round-about  process  for  the  recovery  of  the  copper  contents 
and  the  sum  of  4%  cents  per  pound  is  deducted  from  the  New  York  price 
of  electrolytic  copper. 

Lead — ninety  per  cent  of  the  lead  contained  in  the  ore,  as  shown  by  wet 
assay  on  fire  button,  is  paid  for  at  the  ruling  wholesale  price  of  common 
desilverized  lead  in  the  New  York  market,  deducting,  therefrom  the  sum 
of  one  cent  per  pound  No  lead  is  paid  for  when  the  assay  shows  less  than 
three  units. 

Smelting  Charges  Closely  Associated  With  Buyers'  Schedule  of 

Deduction  on  Metals. 

While  all  metallurgical  losses,  and  all  expenses  attaching  to  bullion 
after  it  leaves  the  smelting  works,  are  amply  covered  by  the  foregoing  de- 
ductions, the  schedules  in  use  in  other  localities  call  for  deductions  far  in 
excess  of  these.  No  two  smelting  companies  have  exactly  the  same 
schedule  of  deductions,  neither  does  any  concern  apply  the  same  schedule 
in  dealing  with  all  patrons.  When  brought  to  the  point,  the  ore  buyer 
does  not  maintain  that  his  schedule  of  deductions  represents  actual  met- 
allurgical losses  and  the  costs  of  freighting,  refining  and  selling  bullion. 
The  average  ore  producer,  if  paid  for  100  per  cent  of  the  metals  in  his 
ore,  at  full  market  prices,  would  object  most  strenuously  to  a  treatment 
charge  which  would  cover  metallurgical  losses,  freight  on  bullion,  refining 
costs,  selling  costs,  interest,  depreciation,  profit,  etc.  It  is  plain  that  this 
entire  outlay  must  be  borne  by  the  ore  in  some  way,  but  by  the  subterfuge 
of  deductions,  a  little  on  one  metal  here,  and  a  little  there,  and  a  little  some- 
where else,  the  ore  buyer  is  able  to  bring  the  treatment  charge,  which  first 
attracts  the  attention  of  the  producer,  to  a  low  point.  Although  not  in  fact 
singled  out  as  victims  the  producers  of  gold  ores  have  been  the  most  bitter 
in  their  complaints  against  the  ore  buyers;  one  reason  being  that  with  no 
valuable  metals  in  the  ore,  except  gold,  there  is  little  chance  for  round- 
about figuring,  and  the  treatment  charge  stands  out  in  its  cold  reality. 

Reasons  for  Varying  Treatment  Rates. 

Rates  of  treatment  vary  within  wide  limits,  according  to  the  locality, 
the  nature  of  the  ore,  and  the  needs  of  the  smelter.  The  ore  buyer  aims 
to  assemble  at  his  plant,  ores  containing  silica,  ores  containing  iron,  and 
ores  containing  lime,  so  that  from  these  a  mixture  can  be  made  which  will 
yield  a  fluid  slag  in  the  smelting  furnace.  Under  such  ideal  conditions,  the 
smelter  does  not  have  to  buy  barren  rock  for  flux,  and  his  furnaces  are 
burdened  with  nothing  except  pay  ore.  Too  much  of  one  kind  of  ore  is  a 
bugbear  in  the  absence  of  enough  of  the  other  kind.  In  the  smelting 
centers  nearest  the  Pacific  coast,  there  is  frequently  such  a  shortage  of 
silicious  ores  that  the  smelters  handle  them  for  almost  nothing;  from 
such  regions,  no  complaints  of  exorbitant  treatment  changes  have  come 
to  your  committee.  But  in  most  smelting  centers,  as  in  the  Salt  Lake 
valley,  there  is  a  large  surplus  of  silicious  ores,  and  in  order  to  flux  them 
the  smelter  is  compelled  to  buy  more  or  less  barren  iron  ore  and  barren 
limestone,  which  not  only  cost  money  to  get,  but  also  cost  money  to  smelt, 
to  say  nothing  about  metallurgical  losses  through  increased  volume  of 
slag.  In  the  Salt  Lake  valley,  one  producer  of  silicious  ores  is  paid  for 
the  metals  in  his  ores  on  the  terms  already  quoted,  and  pays  treatment 
charges  as  follows:  On  ores  going  to  the  lead  furnaces,  a  base  or  initial 
charge  of  $1.00  per  ton;  on  ores  going  to  the  copper  furnaces,  no  base  or 
initial  charge.  To  the  base  or  initial  charge  is  added:  10  cents  for  each 
unit  of  insoluble  matter;  30  cents  for  each  unit  of  zinc  in  excess  of  ten 
per  cent;  25  cents  for  each  unit  of  sulphur  in  excess  of  two  per  cent,  the 
maximum  penalty  for  sulphur  being  $1.00  per  ton  of  ore;  25  cents  for  each 
unit  of  speiss  in  excess  of  five  per  cent.  On  iron,  a  credit  of  10  cents  per 
unit  is  allowed.  All  of  this  means  that  on  highly  silicious  ore  carrying 
twenty  per  cent,  to  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  lead,  this  mine  owner  pays  a 
treatment  charge  of  some  $5.50  per  ton,  and  up  to  this  time  the  buyer 
lias  made  no  complaint. 


74  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

A  private  smelting  plant,  handling  sulphide  copper  ores  and  having  no 
flux  to  buy,  reports  a  working  cost  for  roasting,  smelting  and  converting, 
of  less  than  $3.00  per  ton.  But  as  to  sulphide  ores  in  general  and  ores 
containing  other  objectional  elements,  it  is  impossible  to  lay  down  any 
hard  and  flat  rules,  because  the  ore  from  any  mine  is  peculiar  to  itself. 

The  actual  cost  of  conducting  smelting  operations,  and  the  results  ob- 
tained, have  been  looked  upon  by  concerns  doing  custom  smelting  and  by 
many  concerns  operating  private  plants,  as  secrets  to  be  carefully  guarded. 
Notwithstanding  such  efforts,  much  information  has  leaked  out  through 
litigation  between  rival  concerns  and  much  data  has  been  given  out  from 
time  to  time  by  retired  owners  and  officials.  To  the  professional  men 
who  have  given  the  subject  much  study,  such  details  are  now  fairly  well 
known;  the  producers  who  scorn  professional  advice  are  the  ones  that 
suffer  the  most. 

Sampling  and  Assaying. 

As  to  rules  for  sampling  and  assaying,  we  call  attention  to  the  fact 
that  in  regions  where  competition  is  active,  shovel  sampling  is  being  done 
away  with  and  mechanical  sampling  is  becoming  general.  The  theoretical 
and  practical  problems  involved  in  obtaining  an  accurate  sample  by  me- 
chanical means  have  been  met  so  thoroughly  by  the  men  engaged  in  the 
custom  sampling  business,  that  the  weights,  moistures  and  samples  of 
these  custom  sampling  works  are  being  accepted  by  the  ore  buyers.  Me- 
chanical sampling  is  being  adopted  by  the  smelting  companies  themselves, 
and  much  of  the  ore  coming  into  the  market  is  sampled  at  the  smelting 
works  without  being  handled  by  custom  samplers  at  all.  In  any  event,  both 
buyers  and  sellers  are  permitted  to  watch  the  sampling  and  to  satisfy 
themselves  at  any  and  all  reasonable  times  that  the  work  is  being  done 
right.  The  seller  gets  his  own  assays  on  the  control  sample  as  a  check 
on  the  assays  of  the  smelter.  In  some  cases  the  assays  of  the  seller  are 
averaged  with  those  of  the  buyer  as  a  basis  of  settlement.  If  the  two 
assays  do  not  agree  within  reasonable  limits,  an  umpire  may  be  called  for. 

Wholesale  Metal   Market. Quotations. 

Where  contracts  do  not  specifically  state  what  authority  shall  be  ac- 
cepted on  the  ruling  prices  of  the  metals,  much  dissatisfaction  is  caused 
by  discrepancies  between  the  prices  quoted  by  the  smelting  companies 
and  those  quoted  by  the  daily  press  and  by  trade  journals.  Up  to  this 
time,  it  has  not  been  possible  to  account  satisfactorily  for  these  discrep- 
ancies or  to  locate  the  actual  source  of  all  quotations. 

Silver — The  so-called  "official"  prices,  published  daily  is  the  prices  at 
which  silver  will  be  bought  by  the  firm  Issuing  the  quotation.  The  firm 
does  not  undertake  to  fill  orders  from  consumers  at  these  figures.  A  state- 
ment made  by  the  Treasury  Department  of  silver  purchased  for  the  mint, 
shows  that  the  average  price  paid  by  the  government  is  some  four- 
tenths  of  a  cent  per  ounce  higher  than  the  average  New  York  prices  for 
the  same  dates,  out  of  which  difference,  however,  the  cost  of  delivering 
the  silver  to  the  mint  was  paid. 

Copper — Nearly  all  the  copper  produced  in  the  United  States  is  sold 
by  some  half-dozen  firms.  The  copper  turned  out  by  the  "smelting  trust" 
is  sold  by  the  United  Metals  Selling  Company,  a  firm  that  handles  more 
than  one-half  of  the  copper  output  of  the  country.  The  selling  company 
persistently  refuses  to  furnish  any  quotations  for  publication.  Such 
prices  as  are  given  out  to  the  public  from  day  to  day  are  only  approxima- 
tions, made  b>  journalists  who  go  through  the  market  and  endeavor  to 
get  an  accurate  opinion  from  the  parties  interested.  These  figures  really 
mean  nothing  as  to  the  size  of  lot,  time  and  place  of  delivery  or  terms  of 
payment.  As  to  the  quotations  sent  out  by  the  New  York  M'etal  Exchange, 
the  "American  Metal  Market  and  Daily  Iron  and  Steel  Report,"  a  trade 
journal  published  in  New  York  City,  said  editorially  in  its  issue  of  Decem- 
ber 5,  1906: 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  75 

"We  are  called  upon  to  day  and  almost  every  day,  to  explain  our  copper 
quotations  in  the  light  of  the  official  figures  for  copper  issued  by  the  New 
York  Metal  Exchange,  and  which  today,  and  also  for  several  days  have 
been: 

Lake 22%  to  223,4 

Electrolytic 22Vs  to  22% 

Casting 22       to  22%, 

"These  prices  are  taken  by  the  public  press  and  copied  and  reproduced 
daily  all  over  the  country  as  correct,  on  account  of  being,  as  they  say, 
"official." 

"While  it  is  true,  very  few  firms  in  the  metal  trade  take  any  interest  in 
this  exchange  or  their  prices,  or  even  grace  its  precincts  with  their  pres- 
ence, there  should  be  sufficient  who  use  the  exchange,  to  take  steps  to 
stop  this  deliberate  under-quoting  of  the  market. 

"As  regards  our  readers  who  are  constantly  at  us  for  the  difference  be- 
tween our  prices  and  the  New  York  Metal  Exchange  official  price,  we  refer 
them  to  our  heading,  which  states  'Based  on  actual  transactions/  What 
the  other  figures  are  based  on  we  do  not  know,  certainly  not  on  tran- 
sactions, as  no  copper  transactions  are  made  on  the  New  York  Metal  Ex- 
change." ,  |  *] 

Lead — Transactions  in  this  metal  in  the  wholesale  market  are  on  the 
basis  of  so  much  per  pound,  the  size  of  lots,  terms  of  delivery,  and  terms 
of  payment  being  published  regularly  in  the  various  technical  and  trade 
journals.  But  in  dealings  with  producers  the  ore  buyers  in  some  regions 
continue  to  buy  on  a  so-called  "unit"  basis,  so  aranged  that  there  is  sel- 
dom any  close  or  tangible  relation  between  the  buyer's  price  per  unit  and 
the  ruling  price  of  the  metal  in  the  wholesale  market. 

No  Appeal  From   Rules  of  Ore  Buyers. 

It  is  claimed  by  many  small  producers  of  ore,  that  the  large  producers 
are  given  a  very  unfair  advantage  over  them  in  the  matter  of  treatment 
charges.  It  is  also  claimed  tha^the  custom  inaugurated  by  at  least  one 
of  the  great  smelting  companies  of  distributing  additional  compensation 
to  its  employes  for  faithful  service  during  the  preceding  year  is  actuated 
by  ulterior  motive,  which  operates  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  producer. 
Your  committee  is  not  in  the  possession  of  data  from  any  of  the  great 
smelting  companies  against  whom  these  complaints  and  charges  are  made 
to  show  that  such  smelting  company  or  companies  are  at  all  dissatisfied 
with  present  existing  conditions.  When  we  take  into  consideration  the 
fact  that  one  of  the  great  smelting  companies  in  its  report  for  the  year 
ending  April  30,  1906,  showed  that  the  profits  upon  an  original  expenditure 
of  some  $30,000,000  or  $40,000,000  were  over  $10,000,000  and  that*  this  was 
but  a  slight  increase  in  percentage  of  gain  over  the  former  year,  the  in- 
quiry naturally  arises  in  the  minds  of  your  committee  as  to  how  this  great 
accumulation  of  profit  has  been  accomplished?  And  it  seems  to  us  that 
the  conclusion  would  naturally  arise  in  the  minds  of  unprejudiced  per- 
sons that  the  smelting  business  is  wonderfully  profitable,  or  is  conducted 
along  lines  of  advantage  which  are  not  to  be  shared  by  ore  producers. 

In  other  words,  the  whole  matter,  as  to  treatment  charges,  weights, 
moisture,  assays  and  value  of  different  kinds  of  metals  of  which  the  ore 
is  composed,  and  time  of  settlement,  is  absolutely  in  the  hands  of  the  smel- 
ters, and  from  their  arbitrament  and  dictation  there  is.  no  appeal. 

Impediments  to  Organized   Competition. 

No  ore  producer  can  build  his  own  smelting  works  and  operate  it  to 
advantage,  without  making  provision  for  such  ores  as  will  combine  with 
his  own  to  make  a  good  smelting  mixture.  The  producer  who  attempts 
to  set  such  an  enterprise  on  foot  usually  finds  that  other  producers, 
whose  ores  he  needs,  and  who  would  ordinarily  be  willing  to  co-operate 
in  the  enterprise,  are  not  free  to  do  so  because  they  have  been  allured 


76  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

into  long  term  contracts  with  "the  trust."  Because  of  these  long  term  con- 
tracts, the  producer  who  finds  himself  free  can  seldom  get  any  co-opera- 
tion; and  as  all  such  contracts  have  been  timed  so  carefully  that  not 
many  important  ones  terminate  during  the  same  year,  the  producers,  how- 
ever much  they  may  sigh  for  relief,  seldom  succeed  in  getting  together. 
In  this  respect,  "the  trust"  must  be  given  credit  for  its  shrewd  and  adroit 
efforts  to  forestall  further  competition. 

It  is  complained  further  that  railroad  rates  from  many  of  the  mining  dis- 
tricts of  the  West  are  dictated  by  the  traffic  officials  of  the  "smelting 
trusts"  and  that  the  rates  are  fixed  so  as  to  stifle  competition  from  the  out- 
side. The  matter  of  railroad  freight  rates,  however,  is  already  receiving 
the  attention  of  congress  and  of  various  state  legislatures  and  we  with- 
hold further  comment  on  the  subject,  other  than  to  advise  the  formation 
of  local  and  state  mine  operators'  associations  for  the  purpose  of  fighting 
all  such  evils. 

Remedies  Against  Monopoly. 

The  three  most  prominent  remedies  suggested  are: 

First. — Intervention  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  government. 

Second. — Intervention  by  way  of  state  legislation. 

Third. — Intervention  by  organization  of  mine  owners  and  operators 
throughout  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  building,  operating  and  main- 
taining their  own  mills  and  smelters. 

Under  the  first  remedy  suggested,  "Intervention  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  government,"  your  committee  does  not  feel  like  making  any 
recommendation  other  than  that  the  American  Mining  Congress  uses 
every  effort  in  its  power  to  convince  the  United  States  government  of 
what  we  believe  to  be  the  absolute  necessity  of  better  recognition  and 
protection  of  the  mining  interests  of  this  country  through  a  Bureau  or 
Department  of  Mines  and  Mining. 

Under  the  second  remedy,  "Intervention  by  way  of  state  legislation," 
on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  securing  efficient  state  legislative  action 
in  some  of  the  states  we  think  that  recommendation  along  this  line  would 
not  be  advisable  at  this  time. 

The  third  remedy  suggested,  "Intervention  by  organization,  of  mine 
owners  and  operators,  etc.,"  however,  seems  to  us  to  be  entirely  practic- 
able and  if  wisely  organized  and  judiciously  managed  will  be  eminently 
satisfactory  and  we  would  respectfully  recommend  it  to  the  consideration 
of  this  Congress.  About  the  legality  of  this  remedy  there  can  be  no  ques- 
tion. About  its  desirability,  it  seems  to  us,  there  can  be  no  question,  for 
the  reputed  dividends  earned  by  the  great  smelting  companies  place  their 
enterprises  beyond  the  question  of  doubt  as  successful  business  and  finan- 
cial propositions.  And  with  this  idea  in  mind  your  committee  is  dis- 
posed to  discourage  mine  owners  from  contracting  their  output  to  any  con- 
cern for  such  long  periods  in  advance  that  they  will  be  unable  to  join  with 
their  friends  in  enterprises  of  this  kind  whenever  the  time  seems  ripe. 

We  feel  that  any  objection  which  can  logically  be  urged  against  the 
ownership  of  smelters  and  mills  by  mine  owners  and  operators  as  a  bus- 
iness proposition,  are  practically  the  same  objections  which  could  be 
urged  against  any  such  smelting  companies  as  The  American  Smelting 
and  Refining  Company  and  the  United  States  Smelting  Company  as  bus- 
iness propositions. 

By  way  of  illustration,  permit  us  to  state  that  not  a  great  many  years 
ago  the  mine  owners  and  operators  of  the  Cripple  Creek  mining  district 
became  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  railroad  charges  for  transportation  were 
exorbitant,  and  they  were  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  certain  railroads.  This 
led  to  an  idea  on  their  part  of  building  an  independent  road  from  Colorado 
Springs  into  the  town  of  Cripple  Creek,  traversing  the  entire  Cripple 
Creek  district,  as  a  means  of  outlet  for  their  ores  and  transportation  of 
their  fuel  and  other  mining  supplies.  The  road  was  built  and  paid  for  by 
the  mine  owners  and  operators,  and  then  began  a  bitter  rate  war  which 
continued  for  a  period  of  seven  months.  It  was  inaugurated  by  a  compet- 
ing line  to  drive  the  new  line  out  of  business.  However,  the  new  line  sur- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  77 

vived  and  subsequently  sold  its  holding  to  another  railroad  company,  re- 
serving for  its  stockholders  contracts  with  the  different  mine  owners  and 
operators  which  put  them  beyond  the  possibility  of  paying  exorbitant 
rate  in  the  future.  The  road  paid  its  owners  a  good  interest  and  profit 
on  their  investment,  very  materially  reduced  their  transportation  rates 
and  was  satisfactory  in  every  particular. 

Conclusion. 

We  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  is  the  purpose  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress  to  assist  the  mining  and  metallurgical  in- 
dustries in  all  their  branches,  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  all  con- 
tiguous territory  where  these  industries  desire  to  be  benefited  by  our 
efforts.  And  while  we  have  been  assisted  in  securing  data  for  use  in  pre- 
paring this  report  by  the  earnest  and  hearty  support  of  quite  a  large  num- 
ber of  mining  men  and  operators  throughout  the  country,  for  which  and 
to  whom  we  extend  our  hearty  thanks,  yet  we  deplore  the  fact  that  so 
many  who  could  have  co-operated  with  us  have  failed  to  do  so.  The  reasons 
for  this  partial  lack  of  co-operation  are  very  evident  to  your  committee; 
one  of  the  principal  ones  being  that  should  it  become  known  by  the  smelt- 
ing companies  that  their  business  is  being  criticized  by  their  patrons  they 
might  be  discriminated  against  or  perhaps  refused  treatment  of  their  ore 
entirely.  Still  another  is  that  producers  who  are  wise  to  the  situation 
sometimes  obtain  better  concessions  and  better  treatment  and  conse- 
quently have  not  so  great  cause  for  complaint  as  those  who  have  not  given 
the  subject  so  much  attention.  Another  is  the  general  apathy  which  is 
very  human  and  which  exists  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  among  mining 
men  as  well  as  other  people. 

Your  committee  would  respectfully  suggest  that  when  we  shall  have 
been  discharged  from  our  duties  in  the  premises,  another  and  stronger 
committee  be  apopinted  to  take  up  and  carry  forward  this  work  of  inves- 
tigation and  recommendation  until  such  policy  shall  have  been  inaugu- 
rated and  acted  upon  among  mining  men  and  operators  as  will  insure  for 
all  fair,  just,  equable  and  satisfactory  treatment  in  the  reduction  of  their 
ore  products. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  GEORGE  W.  RITER. 

H.  S.  JOSEPH. 

MR.  JOSEPH:  I  want  to  say  at  this  time,  gentlemen,  that  the  com- 
mittee invites  discussion  upon  the  different  points.  You  will  readily  see 
that  we  have  not  gone  into  details,  or  given  statistical  information  because 
that  is  all  on  file  with  the  Secretary.  The  statistics  are  on  file,  but  our 
general  findings  are  contained  in  the  .report  as  read. 

COLONEL  EWING:  May  I  ask  a  question.  Is  that  the  report  of  the 
entire  committee? 

MR.  JOSEPH:  I  stated  at  the  outset  Colonel,,  that  a  report  had 
been  partially  made  up  in  Denver  and  sent  in  by  Judge  Colburn  and  I  have 
that  report,  but  in  making  up  our  report  we  incorporated  the  vital  points 
of  Judge  Colburn's  report.  His  report  is  only  signed  by  himself.  After 
arriving  here  Mr.  Riter  and  myself  asked  Judge  Colburn  by  telegraph  as 
to  whether  we  could  make  modifications  in  the  report  which  was  sent 
here  by  him.  He  answered  that  he  did  not  desire  any  changes  made  and 
probably  out  of  justice  to  Judge  Colburn  his  report  ought  to  be  read.  I 
will  read  it  if  the  Congress  desires.  I  expected  to  file  it  with  the  Secre- 
tary. 

COLONEL  EWING:     I  think  we  ought  to  hear  the  minority  report. 

MR.  JOSEPH:  I  will  read  this  report  of  Judge  Colburn,  but  I  want 
to  say  that  Mr.  Rider  and  myself  do  not  agree  with  this  report. 


78  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

REPORT  ON  THE   MUTUAL  RELATIONS  AND  GRIEVANCES  OF  ORE 
PRODUCERS  AND  CUSTOM   SMELTERS. 

Your  committee  on  Mutual  Relations  and  Grievances  of  Ore  Producers 
and  custom  smelters  reports  as  follows: 

We  desire  to  state  in  the  outset  that  the  subject  assigned  to  us  in  rather 
large,  complicated  and  difficult  of  treatment,  for  many  reasons  which  are 
very  obvious  to  us,  and  which  possibly  may  become  somewhat  plain  to  you 
before  the  report  is  finished. 

Without  going  too  minutely  into  details,  we  wish  to  state  that  among 
the  matters  complained  of  by  the  producers  are  the  following: 

I.  Exorbitant  smelter  charges. 

II.  Unsatisfactory  method  of  determining  basis  of  settlement. 

III.  Unsatisfactory     settlements    on     account     of     arbitrary     valuation 
placed  upon  different  metals  by  the  smelters;  and  refusal  to  pay  for  the 
ore  under  forty-five  days  to  two  months  after  treatment  of  same. 

I.  Exorbitant  Charges. 

The  claims  are  made: 

That  charges  vary  depending  upon  the  value  of  the  ore.  Most  producers 
are  unable  to  understand  that  while  a  treatment  charge  of  say  $3.00  per 
ton  .is  made  on  ores  not  to  exceed  $10.00  in  value,  $12.00  or  $15.00  is 
charged  on  ores  valued  at  $200.00  and  upwards;  any  more  than  they  can 
understand  why  it  costs  a  railroad  company  only  40  cents  a  ton  to  haul 
ores  of  low  grade  and  from  $4.00  to  $6.00  a  ton  for  ores  above  a  certain 
grade. 

That,  in  localities  where  there  is  no  competition  among  smelters, 
they  are  obliged  to  pay  much  higher  rates  for  treatment  of  ore  where 
competition  exists.  We  are  credibly  informed  that  in  one  instance  of 
contract  where  competition  existed  between  smelters  there  was  a  differ- 
ence in  treatment  charges  of  $34.00  on  lead  ore  of  the  value  of  $100.00  and 
less  per  ton.  That  in  an  extensive  mining  district  where  competition  was 
started  the  smelters  lowered  treatment  charges  from  one  to  three  dollars 
per  ton. 

That  the  tax  for  insoluble  matter  and  for  elemens  seems  to  the  producer 

to  be  altogether  too  great. 

• 

II.     Unsatisfactory    Method   of   Determining    Basis   of  Settlement. 

The  claims  are  made: 

That  the  smelter  assays  are  almost  invariably  low,  and  this  is  purposely 
done  in  many  instances  to  secure  splits  on  assays  to  reduce  the  basis  of 
settlement. 

T,hat  methods  of  umpiring  are  so  arranged  by  the  smelters  that  the 
producer  almost  invariably  pays  the  umpire  fees. 

That  the  methods  of  assaying  used  are  those  which  favor  the  smelter 
and  prevent  the  producer  from  receiving  full  value  for  his  ores. 

That  the  full  assay  value  of  metals  is  not  settled  for. 

That  a  certain  percentage  of  the  value  in  some  cases  is  subtracted  from 
assay  value;  and  in  some  instances,  where  full  value  is  allowed,  a  certain 
percentage  is  deducted  on  settlement;  both  amounting  to  the  same  thing. 

III.  Unsatisfactory  Settlements  on  Account  of  Arbitrary  Valuation 
Placed  Upon  Different  Metals  by  the  Smelters;  and  a  Refusal  to 
Pay  for  the  Ore  Under  Forty-five  Days  to  Two  Months  After  Treat- 
ment of  Same. 

The  claims  are  made: 

That  quotations  from  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal  are  taken 
by  some  smelters  as  a  basis  of  settlement;  and  by  many  it  is  believed 
that  this  journal  is  owned  and  operated  in  the  interests  of  a  smelter  or 
smelters  and  that  its  quotations  are  not  always  correct.  Some  settle- 
ments are  based  upon  prices  quoted  by  brokerage  firms  in  New  York 
City,  who  always  quote  prices  lower  than  the  regular  New  York  quota- 
tions. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  7t) 

That  while  some  smelters  agree  in  their  contracts  with  producers  to 
settle  upon  quotations  given  in  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal, 
they  sometimes  settle  at  less  price  than  such  quotations. 

That  the  smelters  in  a  measure  control  the  quotations  upon  which 
their  settlements  are  made  and  that  while  under  contract  to  settle  on 
certain  quotations  they  do  not  always  do  so. 

And  one  of  the  latest,  and  to  our  minds,  one  of  the  most  vital  com- 
plaints is  that  in  certain  mining  sections  the  smelters  now  refuse  to 
settle  for  ore  until  the  lapse  of  forty-five  days  to  two  months  after 
the  treatment  of  the  same.  This,  to  your  committee,  seems  to  be  a  matter 
of  very  grave  importance  so  far  as  present  circumstances  are  to  be  con- 
sidered, and  also  to  be  very  far-reaching  in  its  results  so  far  as  the  future 
is  concerned.  We  are  credibly  informed  that  in  some  mining  sections  it 
would  not  only  be  possible,  but  highly  probable  that  the  smelters  would 
be  owing  the  producers  from  $1,000,000  tQ  $2,000,000  within  the  two 
months  specified.  This  rule  of  the  smelters  is  very  serious  at  this 
particular  time  when  it  is  hard  to  provide  currency  as  a  circulating 
medium.  And  we  fail  to  see  the  justice  of  furnishing  the  smelting  com- 
panies with  what  would  probably,  in  certain  localities,  amount  to  the 
continuous  use  of  the  interest  on  from  $1,000,000  to  $2,000,000. 

It  is  claimed  by  many  small  producers  of  ore,  that  the  large  producers 
are  given  a  very  unfair  advantage  over  them  in  the  matter  of  treatment 
charges.  It  is  also  claimed  that  the  custom  inaugurated  by  at  least  one 
of  the  great  smelting  companies  of  distributing  additional  compensation 
to  its  employes  for  faithful  service  during  the  preceding  year  is  actuated 
by  an  ulterior  motive,  which  operates  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  producer. 
Your  committee  is  not  in  the  possession  of  data  from  any  of  the  great 
smelting  companies  against  whom  these  complaints  and  charges  are 
made  to  show  that  such  smelting  company  or  companies  are  at  all  dissat- 
isfied with  present  existing  conditions.  When  we  take  into  consideration 
the  fact  that  one  of  the  great  smelting  companies,  in  its  report  for  the 
year  ending  April  30,  1906,  showed  that  the  profits  upon  an  original  ex- 
penditure of  some  $30,000,000  or  $40,000,000  were  over  $10,000,000  and 
that  this  was  but  a  slight  increase  in  percentage  over  the  former  year, 
the  inquiry  naturally  arises  in  the  minds  of  your  committee  as  to  how  this 
great  accumulation  of  profit  has  been  accomplished?  And  it  seems  to  us 
that  the  conclusion  would  arise  in  the  minds  of  unprejudiced  persons 
that  the  smelting  business  is  wonderfully  profitable,  or  it  is  conducted 
along  lines  of  advantage  which  are  not  to  be  shared  by  ore  producers. 

In  other  words,  the  whole  matter,  as  to  treatment  charges,  weights, 
moisture,  assays  and  value  of  different  kinds  of  metals  of  which  the  ore 
is  composed  and  time  of  settlement,  is  absolutely  in  the  hands  of  the 
smelters,  and  from  their  arbitrament  and  dictation  there  is  no  appeal. 

Remedies. 

The  three  most  prominent  remedies  suggested  are: 

First.— Intervention  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  government. 

Second. — Intervention  by  way  of  state  legislation. 

Third. — Intervention  by  organization  of  mine  owners  and  operators 
throughout  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  building,  operating  and  main- 
taining their  own  mills  and  smelters  along  lines  similar  to  those  now 
employed  in  the  operation  of  the  great  smelting  companies  which  now 
control  the  treatment  of  ores  in  this  country. 

Under  the  first  remedy  suggested,  "Intervention  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  government,"  your  committee  does  not  feel  like  making 
any  recommendations  other  than  that  the  American  Mining  Congress  uses 
every  effort  in  its  power  to  convince  the  United  States  government  of 
what  we  believe  to  be  the  absolute  necessity  of  better  recognition  and 
protection  of  the  mining  interests  of  this  country  through  a  Bureau  or 
Department  of  Mines  and  Mining. 


80  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Under  the  second  remedy,  "Intervention  by  way  of  state  legislation," 
on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  securing  efficient  state  legislative  action 
in  some  of  the  states  we  think  that  recommendation  along  this  line  would 
not  be  advisable  at  this  time. 

The  third  remedy  suggested,  "Intervention  by  organization  of  mine  own- 
ers and  operators,  etc.,"  however,  seems  to  us  to  be  entirely  practicable 
and  if  wisely  organized  and  judiciously  managed  will  be  eminently 
satisfactory  and  we  would  respectfully  recommend  it  to  the  consideration 
of  this  Congress.  About  the  legality  of  this  remedy  there  can  be  no 
question.  About  its  desirability  it  seems  to  us  there  can  be  no  ques- 
tion, for  the  reputed  dividends  earned  by  the  great  smelting  companies 
place  their  enterprises  beyond  the  question  of  doubt  as  successful  bus- 
iness and  financial  propositions. 

Other  remedies,  such  as  competition  and  independent  smelters,  have 
been  suggested  and  considered  by  your  committee.  Neither  of  these  do 
we  think  would  be  of  any  permanent  value  for  the  reason  that  competi- 
tion might  cease  to  be  competition,  and  independent  smelters,  as  in  the 
past,  might  cease  to  be  independent  smelters  and  then  the  mining  indus- 
try, so  far  as  treatment  of  ores  is  concerned,  would  practically  be  in  the 
same  condition  as  at  the  present  time. 

We  feel  that  any  objections  which  can  logically  be  urged  against  the 
ownership  of  smelters  and  mills  by  mine  owners  and  operators  as  a  bus- 
iness proposition,  are  practically  the  same  objections  which  could  be 
urged  against  any  such  smelting  companies  as  The  American  Smelting 
and  Refining  Company  and  the  United  States  Smelting  Company,  as  bus- 
iness propositions. 

By  way  of  illustration  permit  us  to  state  that  not  a  great  many  years 
ago  the  mine  owners  and  operators  of  the  Cripple  Creek  mining  district 
became  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  railroad  charges  for  transportation 
were  exorbitant,  and  they  were  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  certain  rail- 
roads. This  leads  to  the  conception  of  an  idea  on  their  part  of  the  building 
of  an  independent  road  from  Colorado  Springs  into  the  town  of  Cripple 
Creek,  traversing  the  entire  Cripple  Creek  district  as  a  means  of  outlet 
for  their  ores  and  transportation  for  their  fuel  and  other  mining  supplies. 
The  road  was  built  and  paid  for  by  the  mine  owners  and  operators  and 
then  began  a  bitter  rate  war  which  continued  for  a  period  of  seven 
months.  It  was  inaugurated  by  a  competing  line  to  drive  the  new  line 
out  of  business.  However,  .the  new  line  survived  and  subsequently  sold 
its  holdings  to  another  railroad  company,  reserving  for  its  stockholders 
contracts  with  the  different  mine  owners  and  operators  which  put  them 
beyond  the  possibility  of  paying  exhorbitant  rates  in  the  future.  The  road 
paid  Its  owners  a  good  interest  and  profit  on  their  investment;  very  ma- 
terially reduced  their  transportation  rates  and  was  satisfactory  in  every 
particular. 

We  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  is  the  purpose  of  The 
American  Mining  Congress  to  assist  the  mining  and  metallurgical  in- 
dustries in  all  their  branches,  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  all 
contiguous  territory  where  these  industries  desire  to  be  benefited  by  our 
efforts.  And  while  we  have  been  assisted  in  securing  data  for  use  in  pre- 
paring this  report  by  the  earnest  and  hearty  support  of  quite  a  large  num- 
ber of  mining  men  and  operators  throughout  the  country,  for  which  and  to 
whom  we  extend  our  hearty  thanks,  yet  we  deplore  the  fact  that  so  many 
who  could  have  co-operated  with  us  have  failed  so  to  do.  The  reasons 
for  this  partial  lack  of  co-operation  are  very  evident  to  your  committee, 
one  of  the  principal  ones  being  that  should  it  become  known  by  the  smelt- 
ing companies  that  their  business  is  being  criticized  by  their  patrons 
they  would  be  discriminated  aganst  or  perhaps  refused  treatment  of  their 
ore  entirely.  Still  another  is  that  the  producers  who  are  wise  to  the  sit- 
uation sometimes  obtain  better  concessions  and  better  treament  and 
consequently  have  not  so  great  cause  for  complaint  as  those  who  have 
not  given  the  subject  so  much  attention.  Another  is  the  general  apathy 
which  is  very  human  and  which  exists  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  among 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  81 

mining  men  as  well  as  other  people.  However,  if  we  are  to  expect  the 
best  results  we  must  be  thoroughly  united  in  our  efforts. 

Your  committee  would  respectfully  suggest  that  when  we  shall  have 
been  discharged  from  our  duties  in  the  premises,  another  and  stronger 
committee  be  appointed  to  take  up  and  carry  forward  this  work  of  inves- 
tigation and  recommendation  until  such  policy  shall  have  been  inaugu- 
rated and  acted  upon  among  mining  men  and  operators  as  will  insure 
for  all  fair,  just,  equable  and  satisfactory  treatment  in  the  reduction  of 
their  ore  products. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  E.  A.  COLBURN,  Chairman 

H.  J.  CANT  WELL,  OF  MISSOURI:  As  the  majority  report  seems  to 
embody  all  contained  in  the  minority  report,  and  as  the  minority  report 
contains  a  criticism  of  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal,  I  move  that 
the  minority  report  be  laid  upon  the  table,  and  the  majority  report  be 
incorporated  in  the  minutes. 

COLONEL  DORSET:  You  speak  of  a  majority  report  and  a  minority 
report.  This  Congress  appointed  a  committee  of  five  gentlemen  to  report 
upon  these  facts.  As  stated,  the  secretary  sent  out  some  1,500  requests 
for  the  different  mine  owners  to  answer.  I  went  to  a  dozen  of  those  men 
and  requested  that  this  information  be  given.  Not  one  responded  for  the 
reason  given  in  those  reports.  They  were  afraid  to  do  it.  I  am  satisfied 
they  had  contracts  with  the  railroads  and  with  the  smelters  to  their 
advantage  so  they  were  afraid  to  say  anything.  I  submit  there  is  no  ma- 
jority report  here.  Mr.  Joseph  and  Mr.  Riter  make  a  report.  Judge  Col- 
burn  makes  a  report.  I  think  it  is  wise  to  publish  the  report  made  by 
Mr.  Joseph  and  Mr.  Riter.  Let  Judge  Colburn's  lay  on  the  table  for 
the  reason  that  the  other  report  contains  everything  except  this  criticism 
perhaps.  Then  if  you  desire,  discharge  this  committee  and  appoint  an- 
other committee  to  take  this  matter  up  and  report  to  the  next  session  of 
the  Congress. 

GEORGE  W.  RITER,  OF  UTAH:  As  one  of  the  members  of  the 
committee  who  is  responsible  for  this  report  which  was  first  read,  I 
think  it  is  fair  to  state  to  the  Congress  that  the  other  members  of  the 
committee  met  with  us,  traveling  long  distances,  and  we  were  in  session 
for  several  days  at  a  time.  I  should  like  to  state  that  although  the  other 
members  of  the  committee  are  not  here  with  us  and  have  not  joined  in 
the  report  first  read,  the  reason  for  that  is  this,  the  report  was  not  made 
up  until  our  arrival  in  Joplin — the  report  in  its  final  form.  Consequently 
it  has  been  signed  by  Senator  Joseph  and  myself  who  are  here.  It  is  fair 
to  the  other  members  of  the  committee,  however,  to  state  that  in  all  ses- 
sions of  the  committee  the  members  have  been  in  perfect  harmony,  and 
I  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  the  other  members  of  the  committee  would 
be  unwilling  to  add  their  signatures  and  give  their  support  to  our  report. 
I  think  it  is  fair  also  to  state  that  those  figures  which  are  quoted  in  the 
report  have  been  given  with  the  express  permission  of  the  operator  who 
furnished  it,  and  that  the  committee  has  been  guided  entirely  by  its  pledge 
not  to  divulge  information  given  it  in  confidence.  I  may  say  in  conclusion 
that  Senator  Joseph  and  I  do  not  join  in  Judge  Colburn's  report  be- 
cause it  contained  things  we  cannot  agree  upon.  We  who  are  operating 
and  selling  ores  in  a  district  where  competition  has  reached  a  maximum, 
where  one  of  the  smelter  managers  has  given  us  honest  information  for 
this  report  and  has  stated  that  more  tons  of  ore  are  being  smelted  today 
with  better  results  than  in  any  other  smelting  center  in  the  country,  are 
inclined  to  recommend  competition  as  a  good  thing. 

W.  R.  INGALLS,  OF  NEW  YORK:  I  arise,  not  to  discuss  the  report 
just  read,  but  to  make  a  simple  statement  with  reference  to  the  criticism 
which  Judge  Colburn  has  made  in  his  report  of  the  Engineering  and  Mining 
Journal. 

H.  S.  JOSEPH:  I  arise  to  a  point  of  order.  My  point  of  order  is 
this  that  there  is  a  motion  before  the  house  and  that  prevents  a  dis- 


82  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

cussion  of  the  two  reports  before  the  convention  at  this  time.  Unless  the 
gentleman  desires  to  speak  on  a  question  of  personal  privilege  to  refute 
certain  statements  made  by  Judge  Colburn  in  his  report  he  is  out  of 
order. 

MR.  INGALLS:     That  is  it. 

MR.  JOSEPH:  Let  me  say  to  Mr.  Ingalls,  that  probably  he  misunder- 
stood. That  is  not  the  committee's  report. 

MR.  INGALLS:  I  understand  that  and  intend  simply  to  make  a  brief 
statement  of  fact. 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:  If  there  are  no  objections  Mr.  Ingalls  will 
have  permission  to  make  his  statement. 

MR.  INGALLS:  The  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal  is  owned  by 
the  Hall  Publishing  Company.  The  entire  stock  of  the  Hall  Publishing 
Company  is  owned  by  its  own  officers  and  employes.  I  make  this  state- 
ment as  a  director  in  chief  of  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal  and 
as  a  director  and  manager  of  the  Hall  Publishing  Company. 

MR.  MALCOLMSON,  OF  KANSAS  CITY:  Do  I  understand,  Mr. 
Chairman,  that  this  matter  is  now  open  for  discussion? 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:     The  reports  are  now  open  for  discussion. 

MR.  MALCOLMSON:  For  a  number  of  years  I  held  a  general  power 
of  attorney  for  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  but  since 
1902  I  have  been  in  business  of  mining  on  my  own  account.  I  would 
like  to  make  a  few  remarks  regarding  this  matter. 

In  the  first  place  I  would  protest  against  the  assumption  that  the  ex- 
tra money  paid  by  that  company  to  its  employes  for  increased  efficiency  is 
paid  to  them  because  of  the  amount  of  money  that  they  steal  from  the 
miners.  Is  that  the  way  I  understand  tte  report  of  Mr.  Joseph? 

MR.  JOSEPH :     That  there  was  a  suspicion— well  grounded. 

MR.  MALCOLMSON:  These  bonuses  are  paid  to  employes  for  effi- 
ciency, resulting  in  increased  profits,  and  in  no  organization  is  it  possible 
for  efficiency  and  dishonesty  to  go  together.  Most  of  the  employes  to 
whom  the  increase  in  the  way  of  a  bonus  is  paid  are  metallurgists,  sup- 
erintendents and  others,  who  do  not  come  into  contact  with  ore  sellers  at 
all,  and  are  in  no  way  able  to  influence  or  affect  settlements  with  the 
customers  of  the  company.  It  is  good  in  law,  and  should  be  good  else- 
where, that  definite  proof  must  be  obtained  before  accusations  of  the  kind 
mentioned  by  the  delegate  from  Utah  be  made  against  a  number  of  repu- 
table men,  based  merely  on  suspicion  without  any  proof  whatever  is  ridic- 
ulous, and  never  should  have  been  made. 

MR.  RITER,  OF  UTAH:  The  members  of  the  committee  submitting 
this  report  recognizes  that  custom  smelting  is  a  legitimate  industry,  and 
so  long  as  it  is  conducted  along  that  line,  and  so  long  as  the  smelters  are 
fair  in  their  methods  of  dealing  with  patrons,  there  is  no  complaint.  We 
do  object,  however,  to  profits  being  made  by  subterfuge.  Some  time  ago, 
there  came  into  my  hands  a  detailed  statement,  made  by  the  Treasury 
Department,  covering  the  purchase  of  several  million  ounces  of  silver  for 
the  mint.  On  comparing  these  prices  by  dates  with  the  prices  that  had 
been  sent  out  from  New  York  for  the  use  of  the  smelters,  it  was  found 
that  in  every  instance  the  price  paid  by  the  government  was  higher  than 
the  so  called  ''official"  quotation,  the  discrepancy  being  almost  too  large 
to  be  explained  by  such  items  as  expressage,  insurance,  interest  on  the 
money  and  so  on.  I  finally  directed  an  inquiry  to  the  firm  responsible 
for  the  New  York  quotation,  stating  that  our  company  was  selling  its 
ores  under  a  contract  which  provided  that  the  silver  contents  should  be 
paid  for  on  the  basis  of  official  prices  as  quoted  by  the  firm  from  day 
to  day  and  asking  how  the  quotations  were  arrived  at.  There  had  ap- 
peared last  spring,  in  response  to  inquiries  from  a  number  of  mining  men 
including  myself,  a  valuable  article  in  the  Engineering  and  Mining 
Journal  on,  "How  Metals  are  Sold."  Among  other  things,  it  recited  the 
basis  on  which  silver  is  sold,  and  stated  that  the  price  is  governed  by  the 
London  market.  According  to  the  article,  which  I  have  every  reason  to 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  83 

believe  correct,  at  a  certain  hour  each  day  the  silver  brokers  in 
London  meet  and  fix  upon  the  price  of  silver  for  the  day.  At  that  price 
they  agree  to  buy  such  quantities  of  silver  as  may  be  offered,  within  rea-~ 
sonable  limits,  and  also  agree  to  fill  such  orders  from  consumers  as  may 
be  placed  at  that  price,  exacting,  more  than  likely,  a  reasonable  commis- 
sion. This  article  was  cited-  to  the  firm  that  .sends  out  the  New  York 
"official"  quotation,  and  the  firm  was  asked  whether  it  followed  the 
rule  of  the  London  brokers  and  undertook  to  fill  orders  from  consumers 
at  the  price  quoted.  It  said:  "No.  The  price  we  give  out  from  day  to  day 
is  the  price  at  which  we  are  willing  to  buy."  Now  it  is  to  be  presumed 
that  the  men  who  are  putting  out  bullion,  placing  it  on  the  market,  are 
aware  of  these  conditions,  and  yet  all  of  the  contracts  that  I  have  ever 
seen,  which  the  mining  men  have  to  sign,  recite  that  the  silver  contained 
in  ores  shall  be  paid  for  on  the  basis  of  the  quotations  issued  by  this 
firm,  which,  according  to  its  own  statement,  does  not  undertake  to  sell 
to  consumers  at  its  price,  but  the  price  given  out  is  the  price  it  bids  for 
the  metal.  It  might  be  well  to  state  further  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
copper  produced  in  the  United  States  is  sold  by  one  company,  but  this 
company,  according  to  statements  made  by  the  editor  of  the  Engineering 
and  Mining  Journal, — statements  made  by  him  personally, — does  not  fur- 
nish and  has  persistently  refused  to  furnish  for  publication  any  data  con- 
cerning its  transactions  and  prices.  In  the  absence  of  definite  infor- 
mation from  the  people  who  ultimately  sell  the  copper  from  our  mines, 
we  contract  in  advance  to  sell  to  the  smelters  on  the  figures  quoted  in 
the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal,  figures  that  are  made  up  by  journal- 
ists who  go  through  the  market  and  endeavor  to  obtain  an  accurate  opin- 
ion from  the  parties  at  interest.  While  not  complaining  of  this  journal 
as  now  conducted,  we  remember  that  it  has  changed  hands  more  than 
once,  and  we  should  like  some  legal  guarantee  thac  the  figures  we  con- 
tract in  advance  to  accept,  will  represent  actual  market  conditions,  tran- 
sactions with  consumers  being  considered  in  their  bulk.  The  smelting 
and  refinining  companies  knowing  the  real  facts  at  ail  times  and  being  in 
position  to  correct  any  published  errors,  could  give  such  a  guarantee,  but 
refuse  to  do  so.  The  parties  whose  figures  we  contract  to  accept  are  not 
bound  to  furnish  correct  ones.  If  they  give  out  figures  which  are  not 
correct  we  can  do  nothing  but  accept  them.  The  point  of  it  all  is  that  the 
companies  who  are  purchasing  and  selling  metals,  who  are  best  posted  o.n 
the  actual  conditions  of.  the  market,  are  the  ones  who  refuse  to  give  out 
accurate  information  as  to  what  the  market  is.  They  compel  us  to  ac- 
cept the  figures  of  third  parties,  but  refuse  to  guarantee  the  correctness 
of  the  figures. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  From  Mr.  Malcolmson's  remarks  it  would 
appear  that  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  is  an  angel  of 
charity  and  justice,  never  did  anything  wrong,  or  dared  to  do  anything 
wrong,  always  on  the  side  of  right,  but  the  ore  producers  come  to  us  with 
their  complaints  telling  us  they  are  not  treated  fairly  and  asking  the 
American  Mining  Congress  to  help  them  out.  Some  have  even  gone  so 
far  as  to  go  to  President  Roosevelt,  the  trust-buster,  and  asked  the  inter- 
vention of  the  government  to  regulate  this  octopus,  the  American  Smelting 
and  Refining  Company.  Mr.  Malcolmson  states  he  believes  this  bonus 
which  the  committee  referred  to  is  being  paid  annually  to  the  employes 
for  efficiency.  Well,  I  don't  see  that  the  poor  furnace  tender  that  gets 
$2  a  day  gets  any  bonus  for  his  work,  but  the  clerks  that  do  the  figuring, 
they  get  the  bonus. 

In  reference  to  another  criticism  on  the  part  of  the  gentleman  from 
Missouri  with  reference  to  contracts.  The  committee  examined  a.great 
many  contracts  and  I  would  say  that  it  would  defy  the  efforts  of  a  Phil- 
adelphia lawyer,  much  less  a  Missouri  lawyer  and  I  know  Missouri  has 
some  pretty  good  things,  to  unravel  these  contracts.  They  read  so  that 
the  average  ore-producer  is  unable  to  understand  what  is  in  those  con- 
tracts. 


84  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

As  to  quotations,  this  is  what  the  ore  producer  is  butting  up  against. 
We  are  confronted  with  two  different  quotations.  The  Engineering  and 
Mining  Journal  has  a  quotation,  and  that  is  the  standard  the  ore  producer 
is  willing  to  take,  but  the  ore  producer  does  criticise  these  manufacturers 
quotations  given  in  the  Trade  Journals  and  in  the  Associated  Press  pos- 
sibly. We  would  like  to  ^see  the  quotations  on  the  metal  the  same  in 
one  part  of  the  country  as  'it  is  in  another,  and  that  is  what  we  do  not  see. 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:  The  motion  before  the  convention  is  that 
the  minority  report  be  placed  on  the  table  and  that  the  majority  report 
be  accepted  and  placed  on  file,  and  that  the  Congress  recommends 
that  a  new  committee  be  appointed  to  replace  the  old.  That  the  old  com- 
mittee be  discharged  and  a  new  committee  be  appointed. 
Which  motion  was  carried  unanimously.  . 

MR.  JOHN  DERN  OF  UTAH:  I  move  you,  sir,  that  the  present  com- 
mittee or  that  the  committee  which  has  just  been  discharged  be  continued 
or  re-appointed  for  another  year. 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:  I  believe  that  the  motion  just  voted  upon 
provided  that  a  new  committee  be  appointed,  so  that  the  appointment  of 
the  new  committee  would  be  delegated  to  the  President. 

MR.  JOHN  DERN,  OF  UTAH:  I  will  withdraw  my  motion  and  sub- 
stitute this  one:  I  move  that  this  Congress  recommend  to  the  president 
of  the  Congress  that  the  members  of  the  committee  which  has  just  re- 
ported who  are  present  and  have  served  faithfully  upon  this  committee 
be  reappointed  on  the  committee  to  be  appointed  for  the  next  year,  and 
that  additional  members  be  appointed  to  complete  the  committee  of 
five. 

MR.  MALCOLMSON :  I  would  like  to  say  that  I  hope  you  will  have  a 
man  on  that  committee  who  knows  something  about  the  smelting  indus- 
try, in  addition  to  men  who  know  about  the  mining  industry. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  At  this  point  I  would  like  to  state  that  the 
American  Mining  Congress  challenges  discussion  of  this  important  ques- 
tion with  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  but  their  rep- 
resentatives are  not  here  today. 

CHAIRMAN  BUCKLEY:     Are  you  ready  for  the  question 
carried. 

MR.  DORSE Y,  OF  NEBRASKA:  The  committee  on  resolutions  re- 
ports back  resolution  introduced  by  Mr.  Mills,  thanking  the  city  of  Joplin 
for  their  entertainment.  In  moving  its  adoption  I  ask  that  a  rising  vote 
be  taken. 

The  motion  being  duly  put  by  the  chair  was  unaanimously  carried. 

Resolutions  of  Thanks. 

Whereas,  The  citizens  of  the  city  of  Joplin  have  more  than  fullfilled 
the  promises  made  by  the  Missouri  delegation  when  the  city  of  Joplin  was 
selected"  as  the  place  of  holding  the  session  of  1907  of  the  American  Min- 
ing Congress,  and 

Whereas,  The  officers,  members  and  delegates  of  the  Congress  have 
been  received  with  true  Southern  hospitality  combined  with  Western  en- 
thusiasm, 

Resolved,  That  the  members  and  delegates  of  the  tenth  annual  session 
of  the  American  Mining  Congress  hereby  express  their  hearty  apprecia- 
tion of  the  courtesies  extended  by  the  citizens  of  Joplin. 

Resolved,  That  the  special  thanks  of  the  Congress  be  extended  to  the 
warm  hearted,  generous  and  apparently  tireless  ladies  of  Joplin,  who 
have,  by  their  attendance  at  the  session  of  the  Congress,  by  their  gener- 
osity, courtesy,  thoughtfulness  and  untiring  zeal,  done  so  much  to  make 
this  session  of  the  Congress  the  most  enjoyable  ever  held. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  extended  to  the  Mayor 
of  the  city  of  Joplin  and  the  Joplin  Commercial  Club  for  their  assistance 
in  making  the  tenth  annual  session  notable  and  successful  in  achieve- 
ment. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  85 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Congress  be  extended  to  the  press 
of  the  city  of  Joplin,  which  has,  by  its  uniform  courtesies  and  its  equal 
justice  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  the  session. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  extended  to  the  citizens 
of  Galena,  Baxter  Springs,  Webb  City,  Carterville  and  Carthage,  for 
their  hospitality  so  generously  offered  and  given  by  them. 

Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  extended  to  the  Mine  own- 
ers of  the  Joplin  district  for  the  opportunity  afforded  to  members  and  dele- 
gates to  examine  mines  and  milling  methods  so  successfully  practiced. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  intent  of  these  resolutions  to  convey  to  each 
and  every  officer,  citizen  and  organization  in  the  city  of  Joplin,  an  ac- 
knowledgement that  nowhere  has  this  Congress  been  received  with  more 
liberality  or  enthusiasim,  and 

Be  It  Further  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded 
to  the  Mayor  of  Joplin,  the  Joplin  Club  and  the  press. 

MR.  GREGG  OP  MISSOURI:  On  behalf  of  the  people  of  Joplin  I  de- 
sire to  express  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  Joplin  and  all  of  those  referred 
to  in  that  resolution  for  the  handsome  recognition  given  for  any  courtesy 
which  we  may  have  rendered,  (applause.) 

M'R.  CANTWELL,  OF  MISSOURI:  I  have  a  short  resolution  which 
I  desire  to  offer. 

The  secretary  then  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution  No.  10  Introduced  by  H.  J.  Cantwell  of  Missouri. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress  that  it  is  unwise  and 
inexpedient  for  any  official  of  this  Congress  to  make  any  report  in  his 
official  capacity  on  any  individual  mine,  or  other  commercial  enterprise, 
and  that  the  work  of  the  information  bureau  of  the  Congress  be  hereafter 
confined  to  the  circulation  of  the  official  printed  documents  of  the  Con- 
gress, which  shall  be  sent  out  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

VICE  PRESIDENT  BUCKLEY:  I  would  like  to  announce  that  the 
report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  laws  of  the  various 
states  with  a  view  to  suggesting  additional  protection  for  mining  investors 
will  be  taken  up  this  afternoon.  I  would  suggest  that  the  members  be 
here  promptly  at  2:30  at  which  time  we  will  listen  to  a  short  address  on 
the  International  Mining  Exposition  at  M'adison  Square  Garden  in  New 
York  City,  by  Mr.  W.  M.  Porter.  A  motion  for  adjournment  is  now  in 
order. 

A  motion  to  that  effect  being  made  and  seconded,  upon  being  put  was 
unanimously  carried,  and  a  recess  taken  until  2  o'clock  p.  m. 


THURSDAY,   NOVEMBER  14,  1907. 

Afternoon  Session. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     The  Congress  will  be  in  order. 
COLONEL  DORSEY,   OF   NEBRASKA:     The   committee   on   resolu- 
tions report  favorably    on    resolution    No.  3    introduced   by    Samuel    R. 
House  of  Denver,  which  I  will  ask  the  secretary  to  read. 
The  secretary  read  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution    No.  3. 
(By  Samuel  R.  House.) 

Whereas,  It  is  apparent  that  the  free  importation  of  foreign  zinc  ores 
into  the  United  States  is  inimical  to  the  direct  interests  of  the  miners  of 
zinc  ores  in  the  United  States,  and 

Whereas,  The  principle  of  protection  has  been  applied  to  the  produc- 
tion of  spelter  and  unrefined  zinc  products;  therefore,  be  it 


86  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

Resolved,  By  the  American  Mining  Congress  in  convention  assembled, 
that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  urged  to  impose  such  a  duty 
on  the  importation  of  zinc  ores  into  the  United  States  as  will  protect  the 
interests  of  the  miners  of  zinc  ore. 

On  motion  made,  duly  seconded  and  put,  the  resolution  was  adopted: 

Motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  the  report  of  the  committee  of 
which  Mr.  Downey  is  chairman,  be  fixed  as  a  special  order  for  four  o'clock. 
Being  duly  put  the  motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  "  The  next  order  on  the  program  is  ad- 
dress entitled  "The  International  Mining  Exposition  of  M'adison  Square 
Garden,  New  York  City,"  by  W.  M.  Porter. 

Mr.  Porter's  address  will  be  found   on  page  149  of  this  report. 

MR.  FRANK  E,  WIRE  of  Illinois:  I  have  a  resolution  I  would  like 
to  offer  and  ask  the  Secretary  to  read  it. 

Secretary  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution  No.  11. 
(Introduced  by  Frank  E.  Wire  of  Illinois.) 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Mining  Congress  accept  this  invitation 
from  the  International  Mining  Exposition  Company  to  co-operate  with 
them  in  holding  this  exposition  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  Ne.w  York, 
and  to  that  end,  as  an  educational  measure  for  the  benefit  of  the  mining 
industry,  the  American  Mining  Congress  extends  the  invitation  to  the 
United  States  government,  states  and  territories,  foreign  countries,  min- 
ing associations,  manufacturers  of  mine  equipment,  and  mine  owners,  to 
participate  in  this  exposition. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  time  has  now  arrived  for  our  sub- 
ject "Symposium  on  Mining  Engineering.  Education,"  led  by  Dr.  Victor 
C.  Alderson,  President  of  the  School  of  mines  of  Colorado. 

Dr.  Alderson's  address  will  be  found  on  page  162  of  this  report. 

COL.  DORSEY  of  Nebraska:  There  is  an  important  resolution  on 
the  desk  of  the  Secretary  I  would  like  to  have  him  read. 

Secretary  then  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution  No.  12. 
(Introduced  by  Judge  J.  H.  Richards.) 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Mining  Congress  urges  the  establish- 
ment under  the  Department  of  the  Interior  at  the  approaching  session  of 
Congress  of  an  independent  Bureau  of  M'ines  and  Engineering  Investi- 
gation, with  ample  authority  and  funds  for, 

(a).  The  investigation  of,  and  inquiries  into  the  nature  and  extent  of 
the  mine  and  quarry  industries;  the  cost,  method  and  processes  employed 
in  the  mining,  handling  transporting  and  treatment  of  mineral  products 
in  the  United  States,  the  territories  and  insular  possessions;  and  the 
recommending  of  legislation  appropriate  thereto;  with  the  view  of  bene- 
fiting these  industries,  by  improving  mining  conditions,  developing  more 
efficient  methods,  and  preventing  mine  and  quarry  accidents  as  well  as 
unnecessary  waste,  and  of  securing  thereby  the  wise  utilization  and  con- 
servation of  our  fuels  and  other  mineral  resources. 

(b)  The  investigation  in  foreign  countries  concerning  mining,  hand- 
ling, treating  and  using  of  fuels  and  other  mineral  products,  with  a  view 
to  benefiting  American  industries. 

(c)  The  investigation  of,  and  inquiries  into,  the  engineering  problem 
of  the  government,  the  testing  of  materials  belonging  to  or  for  the  use  of 
the  government  of  the  United  States;  and  the  making  at  cost  of  similar 
tests  and  investigations  for  state  or  municipal   governments   and   other 
parties,  under  such  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior. 

(d)  The  co-operation  with  the  Geological  Survey  in  determining  the 
value  of  mineral  resources  in  the  United   States;    and  with  the   Survey 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  87 

as  well  as  the  General  Laud  Office  and  the  Forest  Service  in  the  disposi- 
tion and  management  of  the  mineral  lands  belonging  to  the  Federal 
government. 

(e)  The  publication,  in  such  form  as  to  be  readily  available,  of  the 
information  obtained  from  all  these  investigations  and  inquiries;  the  wide 
and  prompt  distribution  of  these  publications  among  the  mining  men  of 
the  country;  and  co-operation  of  impartial  government  experts  in  fur- 
ther education  work  by  public  addresses  in  mining  camps  and  at  the 
meetings  of  men  associated  with  mining  and  quarrying  industries — with 
a  view  to  prevention  of  accidents,  and  of  waste,  and  the  adoption  of  more 
efficient  methods. 

Resolved,  That  realizing  the  increasing  importance  of  the  work  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  as  furnishing  an  intelligent  founda- 
tion for  the  development  of  the  mining,  agricultural,  forestry,  and  other 
great  industrial  developments  in  this  country,  the  American  Mining 
Congress  respectfully  urges  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  grant 
larger  appropriations  for  the  surveys  and  other  investigations  of  the 
Geological  Survey,  so  that  the  results  may  be  reached  rapidly  enough  to 
more  nearly  meet  the  growing  needs  of  the  country,  especially  in  rela- 
tion to: 

(a)  The    classification    of   the    public    lands; 

(b)  The   topographic    surveying   of   the    United    States   and    the    ex- 
ploration and  mapping  of  the  geological  formations,  ore  bodies,  mineral 
deposits,  etc. 

(c)  The  investigations  concerning  the  nature,  extent  and  origin  of 
these  deposits,  and  the  relation  of  the  rock  formations  to  the  character 
of  the  soil  derived  therefrom. 

COL.  DORSEY:  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  This  resolution  is 
offered  by  our  worthy  President  and  has  been  prepared  by  him  after  con- 
sultation with  your  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 
It  embodies  what  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  at  Washington  desires 
regarding  our  views  as  to  the  establishment  of  a  Bureau  of  Mining  in 
the  city  of  Washington  under  the  control  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Inte- 
rior. After  consultation  of  my  colleagues  on  the  Committee  on  Reso- 
lutions we  have  determined  to  bring  the  resolutions  direct  before  the 
convention  for  action.  I  therefore  move  you,  Mr.  President,  that  the  rule 
requiring  the  sending  of  all  resolutions  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions 
be  suspended  and  that  this  resolution  be  now  considered  by  the  Congress. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that  the 
rule  be  suspended  which  requires  the  submission  of  all  resolutions  to 
the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  The  question  now  is  as  to  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  rule. 

Motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

COL.  DORSEY  of  Nebraska:  I  move  the  adoption  of  the  resolution 
as  read. 

The  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  unanimously  carried. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  next  topic  on  the  program  is  "What 
the  Profession  can  reasonably  Expect  from  the  Mining  School  Graduate," 
by  Dr.  Milnor  Roberts. 

R.  H.  KEMP  of  Minnesota:  Mr.  President,  I  was  requested  to  read 
the  paper  by  Dr.  Roberts,  but  at  this  time  I  would  like  to  suggest,  owing 
to  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  ther  fact  that  there  are  many  papers  which 
will  be  presented  by  the  authors  who  are  present,  that  we  dispense  with 
the  reading  of  this  paper,  but  have  it  published  without  reading. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection  it  will  be  so  or- 
dered and  the  paper  will  be  filed  for  record. 

Dr.  Roberts'  paper  will  be  found  on  page  172  of  this  report. 

The  next  on  the  program  is  the  "Relation  of  the  Mining  School  to  the 
the  Mining  Industry,"  by  Prof.  Robert  H.  Richards  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. 


88  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

DR.  HENRY  M.  PAYNE:  Mr.  President,  I  understand  that  Prof. 
Richards'  paper  is  of  extreme  interest,  and  would  suggest  that  it  be 
handed  over  to  the  Secretary  and  published  in  the  usual  course  where 
members  may  have  an  opportunity  to  read  it. 

Prof.  Richards'  paper  will  be  found  on  page  185  of  this  report. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection  we  will  take  that 
order.  The .  next  topic  is  "Secondary  Technical  Education  Applied  to 
Mining,"  by  Mr.  Lewis  Young,  Director  of  the  School  of  Mines  of  Mis- 
souri. 

Prof.  Young's  paper  will  be  found  on  page  178  of  this  report. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  The  next  topic  is  "The  Value  of  Cor- 
respondence Instruction  to  the  Mining  Man,"  by  M'r.  H.  H.  Stoek,  Editor 
of  Mines  and  Minerals  of  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Stoek's  paper  will  be  found  on  page  199  of  this  report. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  time  has  arrived  for  the  special  order. 
We  will  now  hear  from  Mr.  C.  J.  Downey  of  Colorado,  Chairman  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  investigate  corporation  laws  of  various  states 
with  a  view  to  suggesting  additional  protection  for  mining  investors. 

'  Mr.  Downey  presented  the  report  of  the  committee  as  follows  : 
Members  and  Delegates  of  the  American  Mining  Congress: 

This  committee  respectfully  begs  leave  to  report  that  it  is  easier  to 
devise  than  to  demonstrate  methods  of  preventing  fraudulent  mining 
schemes.  By  the  very  nature  of  the  case,  the  demonstration  of  methods 
must  be  expected  to  follow  the  approval  and  action  of  this  Congress, 
with  respect  to  the  proceedings  of  this  committee.  The  committee, 
therefore,  has  limited  itself  to  the  task  of  devising  methods. 

This  committee  begs  leave,  first  to  congratulate  the  Congress  upon 
the  passage  by  several  state  legislatures  of  the  so-called  Pardee  meas- 
ure, concerning  fraudulent  stock  representations,  recommended  by  the 
Congress  at  its  ninth  annual  session,  and  to  urge  that  the  effort  be  con- 
tinued to  procure  its  adoption  in  other  states. 

The  report  of  this  committee  falls  under  five  topical  heads,  repre- 
senting the  five  recommendations  which  it  presents  to  this  Congress: 

First.  Concerning  a  proposed  legislative  enactment  to  compel  the 
organizers,  directors  or  promoters  of  corporations  founded  upon  indefinite 
or  prospective  property  values,  to  justify  the  issuance  of  full  paid  stock 
for  such  property  by  filing  a  complete  schedule  of  facts  concerning  the 
same  with  the  secretary  of  state. 

Second.  Concerning  a  campaign  of  education,  in  behalf  of  probable 
mining  stock  buyers,  through  the  media  of  the  city  and  country  press, 
this  campaign  to  be  conducted  in  the  name  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress. 

Third.  Concerning  a  proposal  to  secure  the  cumulative  voting  privi- 
lege for  minority  stockholders  in  all  states  where  this  privilege  has  not 
already  been  secured  by  statute. 

Fourth.  Concerning  a  set  of  resolutions  respectfully  urging  upon  the 
secretaries  of  states  and  attorneys-general  of  the  various  mining  states 
and  territories  the  importance  of  seeing  to  the  enforcement  of  all  local 
requirements  affecting  foreign  corporations;  that  is,  corporations  organized 
under  the  laws  of  other  states  or  territories. 

Fifth.  Concerning  the  proposed  establishment  of  a  standing  commit- 
tee of  five,  the  majority  of  whom  shall  be  practicing  attorneys,  for  the 
purpose  of  initiating  or  considering  proper  changes  in,  or  additions  to, 
the  corporation  laws  of  our  states,  insofar  as  they  affect  or  may  be  made 
to  affect  the  interests  of  stock  investors. 

First. 

Owing  to  the  variations  in  the  corporation  laws  of  our  various  states, 
especially  as  illustrated  by  local  court  decisions  bearing  upon  the  same, 
this  committee  has  found  it  impossible  to  recommend  to  this  Congress 
any  general  or  uniform  measure  for  presentation  to  the  legislatures  of 
those  states  where  the  organizers,  directors  or  promoters  of  mining  cor- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  89 

porations  should  be  required  to  fully  certify  the  facts  concerning  their 
financial  operations.  It,  therefore,  presents  to  this  Congress  a  TYPE  of 
such  a  measure,  one  which  the  committee  is  satisfied  is  sustained  by  the 
decision  of  at  least  one  Western  state  (Colorado),  and  it  recommends 
that  this  Congress  adopt  the  said  measure  as  a  TYPE  of  a  publicity  law 
to  which  this  Congress  gives  its  hearty  sanction,  the  enactment  of  proper 
statutes  in  the  several  states  to  be  urged  in  accordance  with  the  princi- 
ples thereby  approved.  The  following  type  of  publicity  measure  is  ac- 
cordingly recommended  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  this  Congress: 


AN  ACT  ENTITLED  AN  ACT  TO  CONTROL  THE  ISSUANCE  OF  THE 
FULL  PAID  CAPITAL  STOCK  OF  CORPORATIONS  FOR  PROP- 
ERTY, TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  CERTIFICATION  OF  INFORMA- 
TION CONCERINING  SAID  PROPERTY  AND  THE  STOCKS  SO  IS- 
SUED TO  THE  STATE,  TO  REQUIRE  AN  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO 
THE  STATE  BY  CERTAIN  CORPORATIONS,  TO  FIX  PENALTIES 
FOR  THE  VIOLATION  OF  THIS  ACT,  AND  TO  IMPOSE  CERTAIN 
DUTIES  UPON  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE. 

Be  It  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Colorado: 

Section  1.  Whenever  the  board  of  directors  of  any  corporation,  ex- 
isting under  and  by  virtue  of  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Colorado,  shall 
cause  to  be  issued  any  portion  of  the  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  in 
exchange  for  property,  the  said  capital  stock  being  issued  as  full  paid, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  directors,  within  thirty  days  immediately 
succeeding  the  issuance  of  said  full  paid  capital  stock  and  the  acceptance 
of  the  said  property  as  full  consideration  therefor,  to  file  with  the  secre- 
tary of  state  of  Colorado  a  signed  and  sworn  certificate  of  the  transaction 
aforesaid,  which  shall  contain  also  a  declaration  of  the  value  of  said  prop- 
erty, as  a  reasonable  equivalent  of  the  full  paid  stock  issued  in  exchange 
for  said  property;  provided  only  that  the  said  declaration  may  be  sub- 
ject to  the  following  described  specifications,  to-wit: 

First.  That  the  declared  value  of  the  said  property,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  is  representative  of  a  true  market  appraisement  of  the  value  of 
said  property,  in  whole  or  in  part,  and  to  this  extent,  as  described  or  de- 
fined, immediately  available  for  productive  use  or  valuable  service  to  the 
possessor  thereof. 

Second.  That  the  declared  value  of  said  property,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  is  representative  of  an  implied  future  or  prospective  value  inherent 
in  said  property,  in  the  judgment  of  the  directors;  the  said  implied  fu- 
ture value  being  dependent  upon  undetermined  factors  of  experiment,  ex- 
ploration, equipment  or  other  means  of  exploitation,  without  which  the 
said  implied  future  value  must  forever  remain  undisclosed. r 

Sec.  2.  In  case  the  said  directors  of  any  corporation  shall  certify  to 
ihe  value  of  the  property  issued  in  exchange  for  the  full  paid  stock  of  the 
said  corporation,  subject  to  the  two  specifications  of  value,  as  provided 
in  section  1  of  this  act,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  directors  to  clearly 
define  the  proportions  in  which  the  market  or  appraised  value  of  said 
property  and  the  implied  future  value  of  said  property  are  represented  by 
the  said  declaration.  Failure  to  specify  the  implied  future  or  prospective 
value  of  any  property,  accepted  in  exchange  for  the  full  paid  stock  of 
the  corporation,  when  the  said  implied  future  value  is  manifestly  an  in- 
crement of  the  total  valuable  consideration  for  said  full  paid  stock, 
or  any  evasion  or  false  representation  as  to  the  actual  present  value,  or 
implied  future  value,  of  said  property,  shall  be  a  misdemeanor,  punishable 
by  fine  or  imprisonment,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  3.  Whenever  the  directors  of  a  corporation  shall  certify  to  the 
secretary  of  state  the  implied  future  or  prospective  value  of  any  prop- 
erty, transferred  to  the  said  corporation  in  exchange  for  the  full  paid 


90  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

stock  of  the  said  corporation,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  directors 
to  comprise  within  or, attach  to  their  said  declaration,  as  a  part  thereof, 
a  description  of  the  said  property  with  respect  to  the  following  particu- 
lars, to-wit:  (1)  Its  location  within  a  given  state,  county,  township  and 
section;  (2)  the  nature  of  the  legal  title  thereto;  (3)  the  industrial  or 
commercial  character  of  the  same,  and  (4)  a  description  of  its  physical 
extent  or  amount;  except  in  the  case  of  leaseholds,  contracts  of  purchase 
or  other  written  instrument  signifying  possession  of  real  property,  in 
which  case  the  real  property  itself  shall  be  described  with  respect  to  the 
particulars  set  forth  in  this  section;  also  the  said  directors  shall  accom- 
pany their  declaration  with,  or  attach  thereto,  a  signed  and  sworn  report 
of  an  expert  authority,  fully  describing  (1)  the  limitations  of  the  said 
property,  or  the  property  represented  by  leasehold,  contract  of  purchase 
or  other  written  instrument  of  possession,  with  respect  to  its  imme- 
diate productive  use  or  valuable  service,  and  the  element  of  uncertainty 
existing  in  the  value  of  said  property,  together  with  (2)  the  nature  of  the 
experiment,  exploration,  equipment  or  other  means  of  exploitation,  which, 
in  his  judgment,  are  necessary  in  determining  the  actual  value  of  said 
property,  and  (3)  the  probable  expenditure  of  cash  or  labor  or  both  in 
completing  said  experiment,  exploration,  equipment  or  other  means  of  ex- 
ploitation. 

In  case  the  property  transferred  to  the  said  corporation,  in  exchange 
for  its  full  paid  stock,  is  unproductive  or  prospective  mining  property, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  or  a  leasehold,  contract  of  purchase,  or  other  written 
instrument  signifying  possession  of  unproductive  or  prospective  mining 
property,  in  whole  or  in  part,  wherein  the  ores  or  valuable  minerals  ex- 
posed to  the  knowledge  of  its  owners  are  not  sufficient  to  warrant  a  valu- 
ation equal  to  the  full  payment  of  the  capital  stock  so  issued,  the  expert 
authority  mentioned  in  this  section  shall  be  a  practical  mining  engineer, 
who  shall,  in  furtherance  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  certify  to  the  sec- 
retary of  state  (1)  the  amount  of  underground  development  done  upon 
the  said  property;  (2)  a  description  of  the  surface  and  underground 
equipment  appurtenant  thereto;  (3)  the  approximate  amount  of  ores  or  val- 
uable mineral  exposed,  if  any,  (4)  his  estimate  of  the  gross  value  of  the 
ores  or  valuable  minerals  so  exposed;  (5)  the  nature  of  the  titles  under 
which  said  property  is  held,  as  revealed  by  the  public  records,  and  (6)  the 
limitations,  the  uncertainty,  the  necessary  forms  of  exploitation  and  the 
necessary  expenditures  with  respect  to  said  property,  as  hereinbefore 
provided. 

Failure  of -directors  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall 
be  deemed  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  fine  or  imprisonment,  as  here- 
inafter provided. 

Sec.  4.  Whenever  the  directors  of  any  corporation  shall  cause  to  be 
issued  any  portion  of  the  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  in  equivalent, 
exchange  for  property  having  an  implied  future  or  prospective  value,  iE 
whole  or  in  part,  and  shall  certify  to  the  said  transaction,  as  provided  in 
section  1  of  this  act,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  directors  to  file  in- 
stanter  with  the  secretary  of  state  a  certificate  containing  the  following  re- 
scribed  particulars,  to-wit: 

First.  The  name  and  address  of  the  last  previous  owner  of  said  prop- 
erty, and  a  statement  with  respect  to  any  contract,  agreement  or  under- 
standing which  he  may  have  with  any  or  all  of  the  said  directors  or  with 
any  organizer  or  organizers,  affecting  the  subsequent  use  of  the  stock  of 
said  corporation  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  said  corporation  and  its  stock- 
holders. 

Second.  The  amount  of  full  paid  capital  stock  of  the  said  corpora- 
tion of  original  or  subsequent  issue,  if  any,  accepted  or  designed  to  be  ac- 
cepted by  the  said  directors  as  trustees  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  said  cor- 
poration and  its  stockholders,  or  of  any  cash  proceeds  from  the  sale  of 
any  of  the  company's  full  paid  stock,  accepted  or  designed  to  be  accepted 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  said  corporation  and  its  stockholders. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  91 

Third.  The  name  and  address  of  any  officer,  director,  stockholder, 
trustee  or  agent  into  whose  hands  the  company's  full  paid  stock  of  original 
or  subsequent  issue  has  passed  by  virtue  of  expected  cash  considera- 
tion from  the  sale  thereof  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  said  corpora- 
tion. 

Fourth.  The  nature  of  any  contract,  agreement  or  understanding  by 
and  between  the  said  officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  with 
respect  to  the  subsequent  cash  or  market  price  of  any  of  the  said  corpo- 
ration's full  paid  capital  stock,  by  virtue  of  any  expected  cash  considera- 
tion to  the  said  corporation  from  the  sale  thereof,  or  with  respect  to  any 
commissions,  bonuses,  funding  expenses  or  other  outlays  incident  to  the 
said  sale  of  the  said  full  paid  capital  stock;  also  a  statement  whether 
or  not  there  exists  any  contract,  escrow  agreement  or  understanding  by 
and  between  the  parties  herein  mentioned  to  assure  to  the  said  corpora- 
tion any  proportional  benefits  from  the  sale  of  any  of  the  capital  stock 
of  the  said  corporation,  made  under  and  by  virtue  of  the  public  market 
for  said  stock  created  through  the  said  contract,  agreement  or  understand- 
ing. 

Failure  of  directors  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall 
be  deemed  a  misdeameanor,  punishable  by  fine  or  imprisonment,  as  here- 
after provided. 

Sec.  5.  Whenever,  by  virtue  of  any  contract,  agreement  or  under- 
standing by  and  between  the  directors,  organizers  or  incorporators  of  any 
corporation  or  any  of  said  directors,  organizers  or  incorporators,  and  any 
officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  of  the  said  corporation,  the 
said  officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  shall  issue  or  cause 
to  be  issued,  a  printed  prospectus,  book  or  pamphlet  for  general  public  cir- 
culation, in  furtherance  of  the  advertising  and  marketing  of  any  of  the 
capital  stock  of  said  corporation,  the  said  capital  stock  being  full  paid  in 
exchange  by  the  said  corporation  for  property  having  an  implied  future 
or  prospective  value,  in  whole  or  in  part,  in  accordance  with  the  specifi- 
cations set  forth  in  section  1  of  this  act.;  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said 
officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  furthering  the  sale  of  said 
full  paid  capital  stock  to  duly  print  in  said  prospectus,  book  or  pamphlet 
a,  transcript  of  all  declarations  and  certifications  filed  with  the  secretary 
of  state  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  as  hereinbefore  recited;  provided 
that  the  said  officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  may  print  or 
cause  to  be  printed,  in  prominent  typographical  characters  within  the 
first  three  successive  pages  of  the  said  prospectus,  book  or  pamphlet,  the 
words  "Official  Prospectus,  Published  in  Compliance  with  the  Statute  of 
the  State  of  Colorado;"  provided  that  the  said  officer,  director,  stock- 
holder, trustee  or  agent  shall,  by  so  publishing  the  said  imprint  in  the  said 
prospectus,  book  or  pamphlet,  be  acquitted  of  any  further  requirement  to 
print  said  declarations  certifications  in  other  printed  advertising,  circulars 
or  letters.  Failure  of  any  officer,  director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent, 
to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  deemed  a  misde- 
meanor, punishable  by  fine  or  imprisonment,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  6.  Any  corporation  whose  board  of  directors  shall  certify  to  the 
secretary  of  state  the  issuance  of  any  portion  of  its  capital  stock  as  full 
paid  in  exchange  for  property  having  an  implied  future  or  prospective 
value,  as  provided  in  section  1  of  this  act,  may,  a't  any  time,  file  with  the 
secretary  of  state  a  declaration,  signed  by  the  then  existing  board  of  di- 
rectors, setting  forth  that  the  said  property  has,  by  experiment,  explora- 
tion, equipment  or  other  means  of  exploitation,  proven  to  be  of  actual 
value,  by  virtue  of  productive  use  of  valuable  service  to  the  possessor, 
equivalent  to  the  face  value  of  the  full  paid  stock  issued  in  exchange  for 
the  said  property;  but  any  false  representation  upon  the  part  of  the  said 
directors  as  to  the  proven  equivalent  value  of  the  said  property,  under  the 
provisions  of  this  section,  shall  be  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  fine  or 
imprisonment,  as  hereinafter  provided.  Any  corporation  subject  to  the 
provisions  of  this  section,  as  hereinbefore  recited,  which  has  not  filed 
the  said  declaration  of  proven  equivalent  value,  shall,  by  its  board  of  di- 
rectors, annually  file  with  the  secretary  of  state,  between  the  first  day  of 


92  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

January  and  the  first  day  of  April,  a  statement  showing   (1)  the  amount 
of  cash  received  into  the  treasury  of  the  said  corporation  during  the  year 
ending  December  31st  last  past,  together  with  the  amount  separately  stated, 
of  any  cash  balance  remaining  in  the  treasury  from  any  previous  fiscal  per- 
iod;   (2)  the  nature  of  the  source  or  sources    from  which  said  new  cash  was 
received;    (3)   the  amount  of  any  expenditures   or  disbursements   made 
from  the  treasury  of  the  said  corporation  during  the  year  ending  December 
31st  last  past;   (4)  the  nature  and  destination  of  said  expenditures  or  dis- 
bursements;   (5)   the  nature  and  amount  of  any  liens  or  encumbrances 
that  may  rest  upon  any  of  the  company's  property,  and  (6)  the  nature  and 
amount  of  any  experiment,  exploration,  equipment  or  other  means  of  ex- 
ploitation, whereby  it  was  proposed  to  transfer    the     implied     future     or 
prospective  value  of  any  property  assets  of  the  said  corporation  into  the 
category  of  proven  equivalent  value,  as  defined  in  this  act.    Failure  to  file 
said  annual  statement  shall  constitute  a  forfeiture  of  the  charter  of  the 
said  corporation,  but  the  said  charter  may  be  revived  by  the  payment  to 
the  secretary  of  state  of  the  sum  of  $100  and  the  filing  of  the  last  delin- 
quent annual  statement  as  aforesaid. 

Sec.  7.  Wherever  in  this  act  the  failure  of  directors  or  of  any  officer, 
director,  stockholder,  trustee  or  agent  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of 
any  section  hereof  is  proclaimed  as  a  misdemeanor  the  penalty  for 
such  failure  shall  be  a  fine  of  not  to  exceed  $500  or  imprisonment  in  the 
county  jail  for  the  term  of  not  to  exceed  three  months;  provided  that,  in 
the  case  of  the  duties  of  directors,  as  prescribed  in  sections  1,  2,  3  and  4 
of  this  act,  any  director  may  urge  as  his  defense  the  records  of  any  meeting 
of  directors  showing  that  he  has,  by  resolution  or  otherwise,  sought  to 
set  in  motion  the  functions  of  the  board  of  directors  in  compliance  with 
this  act,  or  that  he  has  voted  in  favor  of  compliance  with  this  act,  or  that 
he  has  dissented  from  any  agreement  or  understanding  to  the  contrary. 

Any  false  certification  or  declaration  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state 
in  pretended  compliance  with  the  terms  of  this  act  shall  be  deemed 
a  felony,  and  any  director  consenting  to  such  felonious  certification  or  dec- 
laration shall,  upon  conviction,  be  subject  to  imprisonment  in  the  state 
penitentiary  for  a  term  of  not  to  exceed  two  years;  except  that  any  signed 
and  sworn  report  filed  by  the  directors  of  a  corporation  in  compliance  with 
the  provision  of  section  3  of  this  act,  requiring  the  filing  of  a  report  from 
an  expert  authority  or  mining  engineer,  shall  be  deemed  the  work  of  the 
said  expert  authority  or  mining  engineer  and  not  chargeable  to  the  said  di- 
rectors; provided  that  this  exception  shall  not  be  construed  to  inhibit  the 
.charge  of  a  conspiracy,  as  between  the  said  directors  and  the  said  expert 
authority  or  mining  engineer.  In  the  case  of  a  false  report  by  an  expert 
authority  or  mining  engineer,  the  said  expert  authority  or  mining  engin- 
eer shall  be  subject  to  the  usual  penalties  for  perjury. 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  state  to  accept  for  fil- 
ing all  certifications,  declarations,  and  reports  provided  for  under  this  act; 
and  he  may  exact  fees  for  the  filing  of  the  same  provided  that  the  fee  for 
any  single  certification,  declaration  or  report  shall  in  no  case  exceed  the 
sum  of  one  dollar.  In  the  event  that  the  directors  of  any  corporation  shall 
fail  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  as  prescribed  in  sections  1, 
2,  3  and  4,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  state  to  promptly  notify 
the  attorney  general  of  the  circumstance  and  supply  him  with  the  state 
documents  bearing  upon  such  breach  of  the  law,  to  the  end  that  the  at- 
torney general  may  proceed  against  the  offenders. 

Sec.  9.  In  the  event  of  any  request  for  a  certified  copy  of  any  docu- 
ment or  report,  filed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  secretary  of 
state  may  cause  the  same  to  be  made  and  delivered  upon  the  receipt  of 
the  usual  transcript  fees. 

The  Abolition  of  Par  Value. 

As  a  supplement  to  the  foregoing  recommendations,  this  committee 
makes  the  further  recommendation  that  this  Congress  place  itself  upon 
record  as  favoring  a  dual  classification  of  corporation  based  upon  the  man- 
ner of  the  original  issuance  of  stock,  in  accordance  with  a  suggestion  re- 


•AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  93 

cently  outlined  before  the  Illinois  State  Bar  Association  at  Galesburg, 
Illinois.  The  idea,  while  not  altogether  a  new  one,  was  brilliantly  set  forth 
and  advocated  by  Mr.  Edward  M.  Shepard  of  New  York  City,  and  it  calls 
for  the  organization  of  corporations  without  any  fixed  par  value  of  shares 
— in  simple  terms  for  the  elimination  of  the  dollar  sign  from  stock 
certificates.  Inasmuch  as  the  function  of  legal  par  value  is  to  determine 
the  liability  of  the  stockholder,  and  this  function  has  been  practically 
abolished  by  the  system  of  issuing  full-paid  stock  for  property,  its  function 
of  determining  the  liabability  of  the  stockholder  can  much  better  be  ful- 
filled by  requiring  adequate  and  honest  certifications  to.  the  state  of  the 
assets  upon  which  corporation  shares  are  uttered. 

This  committee  is  of  the  opinion  and  so  recommends,  that  this  Con- 
gress should  approve  the  organization  of  corporations  either  with  or 
without  a  legal  par  value  for  their  shares,  provided  that  those  which  are 
organized  with  a  legal  par  value  be  required  to  issue  these  shares  for 
cash  or  an  actual  cash  equivalent;  and  provided  also  that  those  corpora- 
tions which  attach  no  par  value  to  their  shares  shall  be  required  to  cer- 
tify,* in  extenso,  to  the  location,  nature  and  status  of  all  assets  for  which 
such  shares  are  paid.  It  will  be  apparent  that  this  dual  classification  of 
corporations  can  be  appropriately  attached  to  the  TYPE  of  publicity 
measure  already  set  forth,  but  the  enactment  of  this  idea  must,  of  course, 
go  to  the  very  roots  of  our  corporation  laws,  and  the  committee  recom- 
mends the  idea  rather  for  future  enactment.  While  this  committee  is  of 
the  opinion  that  the  corporation  laws  of  our  states  and  territories,  in- 
so  far  as  they  should  be  devoted  to  the  protection  of  general  stock  buy- 
ers are  often  wrong  and  in  general  far  from  adequate,  it  does  not  now  feel 
warranted  in  recommending  more  than  the  continued  agitation  for  a 
fundamental  revision  thereof,  in  the  light  of  the  needs  of  stock  investors. 
The  work  which  should  be  done  in  this  direction  is  gigantic  in  its  pro- 
portions, and  the  education  of  public  opinion  may,  in  some  respects,  be 
necessary. 

SECOND. 

As  a  means  of  instructing  and  protecting  the  widely  distributed 
mining  stock  buyers  of  the  United  States,  this  committee  recommends 
that  the  American  Mining  Congress,  under  the  direction  of  its  Secretary, 
shall  pursue  a  permanent  campaign  of  education  through  the  city  and 
country  press,  insofar  as  the  financial  resources  of  the  Congress  will  per- 
mit; it  being  the  design  of  this  recommendation  to  present  to  such  pur- 
chasers of  stocks  a  clearer  knowledge  of  mining  as  a  business,  its  risks, 
needs  and  responsibilities,  together  with  suggestions  as  to  how  they  may 
defend  themselves  against  false  representations  by  detecting  the  ear- 
marks of  fraud. 

As  a  suggestion  appropriate  to  this  purpose,  the  committee  recom- 
mends that  the  following  notice  be  sent  to  the  city  and  country  news- 
papers of  the  United  States  with  the  request  that  it  be  published  as 
coming  from  this  committee  of  the  American  Mining  Congress. 

Authoritative  Advice  to  Mining  Investors. 

The  American  Mining  Congress,  numbering  among  its  members 
thousands  of  the  representative  mining  men  of  the  West,  at  its  Denver 
meeting  in  1906  and  its  meeting  at  Joplin,  Missouri,  in  November,  com- 
mitted itself  to  a  policy  of  suppressing  fraudulent  mining  promotions. 

In  pursuance  of  that  policy  it  appointed  a  Fraud  Investigating  Com- 
mittee, which  has  issued  to  the  press  of  the  county  the  following  infor- 
mation, intended  as  a  safeguard  to  the  mining  investor: 

In  the  interests  of  those  who  wish  to  invest,  not  speculate,  in  mining 
stocks,  the  committee  urges  that  each  prospective  investor  arm  himself 
with  information  in  answer  to  the  questions  below. 

Let  there  be  no  evasion  of  the  promoter,  accept  from  him  no  glitter- 
ing generalities,  but  insist  on  clear,  concise,  accurate  information.  The 
honest  promoter,  who  has  a  business-like  proposition  to  present  to  busi- 


94  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

ness  men  is  afraid  of  shocking  their  intelligence  by  explaining  the  business 
chances  which  his  enterprise  entails. 

The  "Separator  Promoter,"  however, — that  is,  one  whose  chief  in- 
terest is  in  dishonestly  separating  cash  from  the  investor,  rather  than  in 
separating  metal  from  the  ground — is  either  afraid  to  reveal  the  thousand 
to  one  chances  against  his  gamble,  or  reluctant  to  disclose  his  method  of 
pocketing  the  lion's  share  in  case  of  success. 

Presuming  that  the  prospective  investor  is  anxious  to  acquire  definite 
information  regarding  a  mining  company  and  its  property,  the  com- 
mittee urges  that,  as  a  preliminary  step,  he  secure  precise  statements 
from  the  promoter  in  answer  to  the  following  questions.  Inasmuch  as 
the  misuse  of  the  mails  is  a  felony,  be  sure  to  preserve  all  replies,  together 
with  the  stamped  envelopes  containing  them: 

1.  Company  organization,   when  and  where  incorporated? 

2.  Capital  stock,  how  issued  and  apportioned? 

3.  What  steps  have  been,  or  will  be,  taken  to  raise  funds  for  the 
development  or  equipment  of  the  property? 

4.  Is  any  of  the  stock  pooled? 

5.  How  was  the  property  acquired  by  this  company? 

6.  Are  there  any  debts  against  the  company? 

7.  Are  there  any  incumbrances  against  the  property? 

8.  Location  of  the  property  and  total  acreage?    Nature  of  titles? 

9.  Nature  and  extent  of  developments  and  equipment,  and  how  much 
has  been  expended  in  this  work? 

10.  How  much  treasury  stock  has  been  sold  and  at  what  price? 

11.  How  much  cash  is  in  the  treasury? 

12.  Has  the   property  ever  produced,  and  if  so,  how  much  has   it 
produced  under  the  present  ownership? 

13.  Has  the  property  ever  been  examined  by  a  competent  and  honest 
mining  engineer?    Give  his  name  and  address,  and  send  copy  of  his  report. 

14.  Is  the  property  working  at  the  present  time?     If  so,  how  many 
men  does  it  employ,  exclusive  of  stock  solicitors? 

15.  Has  a  comprehensive  financial  report  of  the  operations  to  date 
been  issued?    If  so,  send  a  copy.    If  not,  count  the  writer  out. 

These  questions  are  modeled  after  a  few  of  the  most  important  con- 
tained in  a  blank  form  issued  by  the  American  Mining  Congress,  James 
F.  Callbreath,  Secretary,  Denver,  Colorado.  This  blank  will  be  mailed 
to  any  address  upon  application. 

It  will  be  noted  that  question  No.  13  calls  for  the  name  and 
address  of  the  engineer  who  has  examined  and  reported  upon  the  prop- 
erty in  question.  To  those  innocent  of  the  fact  that  scores  of  parasites 
upon  the  legitimate  mining  industry  masquerade  under  the  title  of  Pro- 
fessor or  Doctor,  or  have  appropriated  the  degrees  of  E.  M.  or  M'.  E.,  a 
word  of  advice  may  »ot  come  amiss. 

Investigate  the  standing  of  this  engineer,  by  writing  some  one  in  a 
position  to  know,  and  whose  integrity  is  beyond  question.  If  you  are  not 
a  good  judge  of  these  things,  exhibit  his  report  to  some  one  who  is. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  various  state  officials  whose  duties 
concern  the  mining  industry: 

Arizona — William  P.  Blake,  State  Geologist,  Tucson. 

California — Lewis  E.  Aubrey,  State  Mineralogist,  San  Francisco. 

Colorado — T.  J.  Dalzell,  Commissioner  of  Mines,  Denver. 

Idaho — Robert  N.  Bell,  State  Inspector  of  Mines,  Boise. 

Kansas — Erasmus   Haworth,    State   Geologist,   Lawrence. 

Michigan — Alfred  C.  Lane,  State  Geologist,  Lansing. 

North  Carolina— Jos.  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  Chapel  Hill. 

Missouri— E.  R.  Buckley,  State  Geologist,  Rolla. 

South  Dakota— E.  C.  Perisho,  State  Geologist,  Vermillion. 

Washington — Henry  Landes,  State  Geologist,  Seattle. 

Wisconsin— E.  A.  Birge,  State  Geologist,  Madison. 

Wyoming — H.  C.  Beeler,  State  Geologist,  Cheyenne, 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  95 

In  some  of  these  state  offices  the  regulations  require  the  receipt  of 
one  dolar,  acompanying  all  inquiries,  to  guarantee  answer.  In  all  of  them 
such  a  small  fee  is  only  a  proper  recompense  for  a  conscientious  reply 
on  inquiries. 

A  quick  method  of  getting  in  touch  with  a  reputable  engineer,  famil- 
iar with  the  region  in  which  the  mining  property  is  located,  is  that  of 
corresponding  direct  with  the  editors  of  the  reputable  technical  mining 
press.  Avoid  what  are  known  as  promotion  organs. 

These  suggestions  to  the  public  are  made  by  a  special  committee  of 
the  American  Mining  Congress,  composed  of  Hon.  Albert  Mclntyre, 
Everett,  Washington,  former  governor  of  Colorado;  Hon.  Henry  C.  Beeler, 
state  geologist,  Cheyenne,  Wyoming;  Judge  William  F.  Clark,  Glover, 
Vermont;  R.  L.  Herrick,  associate  editor  of  Mines  and  Minerals,  Scran- 
ton,  Pennsylvania,  and  Charles  J.  Downey,  managing  editor  of  The  Daily 
Mining  Record,  Denver,  Colorado. 

THIRD. 

The  purpose  of  what  is  known  as  the  cumulative  voting  privilege  in 
the  selection  of  corporation  directors  is  to  enable  minority  stockholder 
to  procure  representation  in  boards  of  directors.  Instead  of  casting  one 
vote  per  share  for  each  of  a  given  number  of  directors,  'such  a  law  will 
permit  any  stockholder  to  cumulate  his  vote;  that  is,  by  casting  all  his 
votes  for  a  single  director,  or  for  any  limited  number  which  he  desires. 
This  committee,  therefore,  recommends  that  a  measure  be  framed,  after 
the  models  already  existing,  carrying  out  the  idea  of  the  cumulative  vot- 
ing privilege,  and  that  the  same  be  presented  to  the  legislatures  of  the 
states  not  already  possessing  such  a  law. 

FOURTH. 

This  committee  recommends  the  adoption  of  the  following  self-ex- 
planatory set  of  resolutions: 

In  view  of  the  frequent  complaint  that  is  heard  against  the  business 
methods  of  mining  corporations  and  their  attitude  toward  the  remote 
purchasers  of  their  shares  in  the  interest  of  development,  and  being  con- 
vinced from  investigation  that  many  evils  arise  from  the  practice  of  in- 
corporating mining  companies  under  the  laws  of  one  state  or  territory 
for  the  purpose  of  doing  a  mining  business  in  another  state  or  territory, 
as  well  as  from  the  frequent  failure  of  such  corporations  to  properly 
comply  with  the  corporation  laws  of  the  states  or  territories  wherein 
their  principal  business  is  carried  on;  therefore, 

Be  it  resolved,  By  the  tenth  annual  session  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress,  assembled  at  Joplin,  Missouri,  that  the  nature  of  such  evils 
and  the  efforts  which  the  Congress  has  put  forth  to  suggest  remedies 
therefor,  fully  justify  it  in  respectfully  expressing  itself  upon  this  point 
to  the  secretaries  of  state  and  attorneys  general  of  all  the  states  of  tne 
United  States  where  mining  is  done,  and  especially  where  public  mining 
corporations  the  more  frequently  operate;  and, 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That,  without  any  specific  instance  in  mind 
and  wholly  to  the  general  advantage  of  the  mining  industry  and  those  who 
trust  their  money  in  the  development  and  equipment  of  mining  enter- 
prises, legitimate  or  spurious,  the  American  Mining  Congress  shall  urge 
upon  the  state  and  territorial  officers  herein  mentioned  the  vital  im- 
portance of  enforcing  the  local  laws  governing  foreign  corporations,  to  the 
end  that  no  mining  company,  by  any  method  of  organization,  may  evade 
or  continue  to  evade  its  just  duties  toward  the  purchasers  of  such  cor- 
poration shares;  and, 

Be  it  finally  resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress  be  hereby  instructed  to  send  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the 
Secretary  of  State  and  the  Attorney  General  of  every  state  or  territory 
where,  according  to  his  knowledge,  the  purposes  of  these  resolutions 
apply,  together  with  any  suitable  letter  of  explanation  which  he  may  see 
fit  to  draw. 


96  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

FIFTH. 

This  committee  recommends  that  a  standing  committee  of  five  be 
established  by  the  American  Mining  Congress,  called  the  Committee  on 
Investment  Legislation,  the  purposes  of  which  shall  be  to  initiate  or  con- 
sider suggestions  for  improvements  in  the  corporation  laws  of  the  various 
states  with  respect  to  their  bearing  upon  the  needs  and  privileges  of 
stock  investors;  the  majority  of  the  members  thereof  to  be  practicing 
attorneys  and  the  tenure  of  service  upon  this  committee  to  run  from  one 
annual  session  of  this  Congress  to  the  next  succeeding  session,  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  Congress  being  authorized  to  appoint  the  members  thereof 
annually.  Nothing  in  this  recommendation  shall  be  construed  to  mean 
that  a  committeeman  may  not  succeed  himself.  This  committee  shall 
be  empowered  to  consider  and  report  upon  matters  initiated  by  itself  or 
proposed  at  any  session  of  this  Congress,  as  well  as  to  take  in  hand  any 
incompleted  business  of  the  present  committee. 

Respectfully  submitted  by  the  committee: 

A.  W.  McINTIRE, 
R.   L.   HERRICK, 
WILLIAM   F.    CLARK, 
HENRY  C.  BEELER, 
CHARLES  J.  DOWNEY, 

Chairman. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  14,  1907. 

Evening  Session. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :     The  Congress  will  be  in  order. 

We  will  now  listen  to  an  address  entitled  "The  Relations  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey  to  the  Mining  Industry,"  by  Dr.  George  Otis 
Smith  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  Director  of  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey. 

Dr.  Smith's  paper  will  be  found  on  page  138  of  this  report. 

COL.  DORSE Y  of  Nebraska:  I  am  directed  by  the  Committee  on  Res- 
olutions to  report  back  Resolution  No.  6,  introduced  by  Mr.  Siclelle,  and 
offer  as  a  substitute  therefor  that  which  I  will  ask  the  Secretary  to  read. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Substitute  for  Resolution   No.  6. 
(Introduced  by  Wm.  T.  Sidell  of  Oklahoma.) 

Whereas,  There  is  expressed  dissatisfaction  among  the  oil  producer." 
of  Oklahoma  respecting  the  conditions  governing  the  development  and 
operation  of  oil  and  gas  lands  in  that  state;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  recognized  by  the  American  Mining  Congress  that  these 
unsatisfactory  conditions  arise  from  the  peculiar  relations  existing  under 
acts  of  Congress,  whereby  the  Department  of  Interior  is  constituted  as 
guardian  for  the  Indian  land  owners;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  urged  to  enact 
such  legislation  as  will,  so  far  as  possible,  correct  the  unsatisfactory  con- 
ditions at  present  existing,  and  be  to  the  mutual  advantage  of  the  Indian 
land  owner  and  those  who  are  desirous  of  developing  the  oil  and  gas  re- 
sources of  their  lands. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  the  substitute  resolution  be  adopted  in 
place  of  the  one  formerly  offered.  The  motions  being  duly  put  was  unani- 
mously carried. 

COL.  DORSE  Y  of  Nebraska:  I  am  instructed  to  report  back  Reso- 
lutions No.  10,  offered  by  Mr.  Cantrell  of  Missouri,  and  offer  this  substi- 
tute therefor. 

The  Secretary  than  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 


AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS  97 

Substitute  for  Resolution  No.  10. 
(Introduced  by  H.  J.  Cantwell  of  Missouri. 

Resolved  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress  that  it  is  unwise  and  in- 
expedient for  any  official  of  this  Congress  to  make  any  report  in  his  of- 
ficial capacity  on  any  individual  mine  or  other  commercial  enterprise 
whatever,  and  that  the  work  of  the  Information  Bureau  of  the  Congress 
be  hereafter  confined  to  the  circulation  of  the  official  printed  documents 
of  the  Congress,  which  shall  be  sent  out  under  such  rules  and  regula- 
tions as  may  be  presribed  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

It  being  moved  and  seconded  that  the  substitute  resolution  be  adopted 
and  the  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Cantrell  laid  upon  the  table,  the  motion 
was  put  and  unanimously  carried. 

COL.  DORSET  of  Nebraska:  I  report  back  Resolution  No.  9,  offered 
by  Mr.  Vincent  of  Missouri,  This  matter  is  covered  largely  by  the  report 
of  the  committee  of  which  M'r.  Downey  is  chairman  and  it  is  now  under 
consideration  by  this  Congress. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  That  is  the  one  which  was  to  have  been 
considered  with  the  report? 

COL.  DORSET:  Yes.  If  this  report  is  adopted  by  this  Congress  I  will 
ask  that  the  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Vincent  be  tabled,  for  everything,  in 
my  judgment,  that  he  seeks  to  enact  or  reccommend  is  covered  by  that  re- 
port. Still,  some  gentlemen  of  the  committee  take  a  different  view  and 
think  that  this  resolution  of  Mr.  Vincent  should  be  considered,  so  I  ask 
now  that  the  two  be  considered  together,  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Vincent  and 
the  report  of  the  committee  of  five  referred  to,  to  investigate  laws  for 
the  prevention  of  mining  frauds. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  believe  it  was  understood  that  at  the 
proper  time  the  motion  would  be  made  to  make  these  two  resolutions  a 
special  order.  They  will  remain  in  the  Secretary's  hands  until  that  order 
is  made. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  next  on  the  program  is  an  address 
on  the  subject  "The  Importance  of  the  Mining  Industry  to  the  Industrial 
and  Commercial  Life  of  the  Nation,"  by  H.  J.  Cantwell  of  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Cantwell's  address  will  be  found  on  page  115  of  this  report. 

There  being  no  further  business  the  meeting  adjourned  until  Friday 
morning  at  9:30  o'clock. 

FRIDAY,    NOVEMBER   15,  1907. 


Morning  Session. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     The  Congress  will  be  in  order. 
The  Secretary  was  requested  to  read  the  paper  entitled,  "The  Great 
Southwest,"  which  paper  is  as  follows: 

THE    GREAT    SOUTHWEST. 

Mr.    President   and   Gentlemen   of   the    American   Mining    Congress: 

With  a  profound  appreciation  of  of  the  honor  of  appearing  before  this 
excellent  body  as  duly  accredited  delegates  thereof,  and  as  representa- 
tives from  Arizona  and  the  Great  Southwest,  we  extend  to  you  the  hand 
of  royal  fellowship  from  that  magnificent  field.  We  are  incapable  of 
underestimating  the  importance  to  ourselves,  our  country  and  to  civiliza- 
tion which  this  splendid  convention  carries.  In  it  we  see  the  brain  and 
brawn,  the  integrity,  the  industrial  worth  and  the  crystallized  patriotism 
of  the  very  best  element  from  many  nations  the  world  over. 

As  comrades  we  extend  to  you  the  right  hand  of  the  Great  Southwest 
as  together  we  take  up  the  march  in  this  grand  crusade  of  industrial 
progress. 

In  a  spirit  of  what  we  consider  legitimate  pride,  we  lay  the  list  of 
our  resources  before  you,  and  ask  recognition  in  the  eyes  of  the  mining 
world,  in  a  measure  commensurate  with  these  resources,  in  a  field  of 
enterprise,  which  means,  advantage  for  all.  In  this  beneficent  work,  the 
advancement  of  one  does  not  involve  the  downfall  of  another,  and  a  mul- 


98  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

titude  of  golden  congratulations,  fresh  moulded  in  the  heart,  follow  fast 
on  the  success  of  the  lowliest  and  most  obscure,  as  well  as  upon  the 
achievements  of  the  mightiest  captains. 

In  this  convention,  which  can  be  said  of  no  other,  from  The  Hague 
down  to  the  partisan  primary,  selfishness  and  personal  advancement  is 
entirely  eliminated.  No  other  but  what  the  imp  of  intrigue,  the  Mephisto 
of  revenge  or  the  heartless  demon  of  ambition  enters  its  ranks,  either 
bodily  or  in  disguise,  to  corrupt  its  rectitude,  steal  away  its  sense  of  jus- 
tice or  lead  its  high  promoters  in  forbidden  ways,  but  here,  the  noble  im- 
pulse of  mutual  and  honorable  emulation,  that  splendid  ambition  to 
climb  to  triumph,  not  upon  the  ruins  of  other  men's  hopes,  but  by  the 
ladder  provided  by  generous  Mother  Nature,  is  in  the  saddle  and  calls 
for  the  best  effort  of  the  noblest  sons  of  this  and  every  other  civilized 
nation  on  the  globe. 

We  feel  that  the  earnest  benediction  of  all  mankind  rests  upon  our 
deliberations,  and  may  our  course  be  crowned  with  such  results  as  will 
vindicate  the  happiest  predictions  of  our  most  enthusiastic  well  wishers. 

With  every  species  of  respect  for  every  section  of  the  august  mining 
field,  from  Alaska  to  Patagonia,  from  Australia  to  Africa,  from  Europe  to 
the  antipodes,  we  are  asking  ourselves,  if,  after  due  investigation  and  re- 
flection, we  may  be  pardoned  by  the  rank  and  file  of  this  splendid  body 
for  cherishing  a  PECULIAR  pride  in  our  beloved  Arizona  and  the  Great 
Southwest. 

We  will  not  burden  this  august  body  by  lengthy  quotations  of  fig- 
ures and  statistics,  which,  since  they  are  public  property,  we  have  a 
right  to  assume  have  come  under  the  observation  of  every  delegate 
present.  In  the  light  of  this  statement  we  hope  we  may  be  pardoned 
for  dealing  in  generalities  and  off-hand  results. 

When  we  reflect  that  our  older  sisters,  Colorado,  California,  Montana 
and  Michigan  employed  a  score  of  men  in  their  copper  fields,  while 
among  the  sunny  foot-hills  of  Arizona,  a  single  miner  chlorided  in  the 
superficial  style  for  the  red  metal,  with  his  Winchester  at  his  elbow,  in 
momentary  expectation  of  ambuscade  at  the  hands  of  the  lurking  Apa- 
che, when  we  reflect  that  one  level  was  added  to  another,  as  the  tardy 
railway  grew  closer  and  closer,  and  as  capital  angled  cautiously  for 
years  about  the  golden  prize,  when  we  stop  to  consider  that,  despite  all 
of  these  difficulties,  and  with  one  man  at  work  to-day,  where  our  older 
sisters  have  perhaps  ten,  with  their  unlimited  capital  and  mighty  machinery, 
California,  Colorado  and  Michigan  have  successively  yielded  the  palm  to 
Arizona  as  a  copper  producer  and  Montana  will  also  yield  by  the  end 
of  1907 — are  we  not  compelled  to  attach  most  profound  importance  to 
these  -significant  FACTS  ? 

Do  not  these  eloquent  truths  speak  volumes  for  the  ore  bodies  in 
Arizona,  their  extent,  their  richness  and  the  facilities  which  must  sur- 
round the  meagre  mining  operations  in  the  territory? 

In  the  light  .of  these  happy  conditions,  are  we  not  compelled  to  ad- 
mit that  Arizona  is  an  industrial  entity  entitled  to  the  highest  recogni- 
tion and  consideration  at  the  hands  of  this  splendid  body  of  just  and 
considerate  men? 

Now  this  remarkable  result  has  been  brought  about  by  the  output  of 
the  copper  mines  of  Arizona,  conspicuously  Bisbee,  Jerome,  Clifton,  Mor- 
enci,  Globe  and  many  others  surrounding  Douglas.  Thus  Cochise  county, 
Arizona,  is  the  head  and  front  of  the  mighty  impulse,  and  extraordinary 
resources,  which  give  Arizona  first  place  as  a  copper  producer  in  this 
country  despite  the  disadvantages  under  which  it  has  labored. 

Now,  the  city  from  which  we  have  the  honor  of  being  accredited  is  in 
Cochise  county,  Arizona.  It  is  the  smelter  center  of  the  Southwest  as 
well  as  for  a  field  of  custom  operations  of  vast  extent.  The  field  tribu- 
tary to  it  in  the  Territory  of  Arizona,  great  as  it  is,  is  Jiardly  more  im- 
portant than  that  whose  wealth  flows  through  it  from  the  wonderful  min- 
ing area  of  Sonora,  Mexico.  Space  forbids,  and  precludes  the  possibility 
of  granting  the  wonderful  mining  field  of  Sonora  just  mentioned  in  this 
connection.  It's  incomprehensible  to  one  who  has  never  visited  that  ex- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  99 

traordinary  mining  belt  in  person.  The  open  record  of  La  Cananea  and 
the  Moctezuma  districts,  alone  with  a  thousand  smaller  propositions, 
which  have  produced  millions  by  inefficient,  if  not  primitive  methods, 
would  fill  a  volume  of  large  proportions.  This  virgin  field,  which,  as 
yet,  has  barely  been  touched,  as  railroads  penetrate  the  mountains  year 
by  year,  is  unfolding  in  point  of  mineral  resources  in  a  manner  that 
challenges  the  astonishment  of  the  mining  world. 

Then  the  multitude  of  undeveloped  propositions,  with  exceptionally 
fine  surface  showings,  constitutes  the  principal  attraction  of  capitalist 
from  all  over  the  world,  and  the  recent  avalanche  of  capital  and  enter- 
prise, moving  in  that  direction,  has  taken  form  in  a  manner  to  command 
the  attention  of  the  profession  universally,  before  our  next  Congress 
shall  have  been  called  to  order. 

The  Delegates  from  Douglas,  Arizona,  submit  this  manuscript  with  a 
request  that  the  same  be  filed  with  and  made  a  part  of  the  records  of 
the  American  Mining  Congress,  here  assembled. 

S.  S.  BADGER, 

Secretary. 

COL.  DORSET  of  Nebraska:  I  am  requested  to  report  back  Resolu- 
tion No.  8  and  have  substituted  therefor  the  resolution  which  the  Secre- 
tary will  read. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  following  resolution: 

Substitute  for  Resolution  No.  8. 
(By  John  Dern  of  Utah.) 

Whereas,  the  University  of  Utah,  through  a  resolution,  (No.  8),  in- 
troduced by  Mr.  John  Dern,  has  tendered  to  this  Congress  the  privilege  of 
using  the  mining  and  metallurgical  laboratories  it  its  school  of  mines, 
agreeing  to  make  no  charges  therefor  except  to  cover  actual  expenditures 
in  conducting  tests;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  recited  in  said  resolution  that  the  laboratories  at  said 
school  of  mines  are  amply  equipped  for  necessary  and  practical  tests  in 
connection  with  concentrating,  leaching,  furnace  work,  and  other  methods, 
of  treating  ores;  and 

Whereas,  It  appears  that  the  judicious  use  of  laboratories,  so  located 
in  the  heart  of  the  mining  regions,  will  materially  advance  the  mining 
industry  and  the  purposes  of  this  congress;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  looks  with  favor  upon  aid  and  co-opera- 
tion so  proffered;  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  are  hereby  tendered  to 
the  University  of  Utah  for  its  generous  offer,  and  that  the  matter  of  ac- 
cepting said  offer,  and  of  designating  said  laboratories  as  an  official  ex- 
periment station  of  this  Congress,  is  hereby  referred  to  the  Directors  for 
such  action  as  in  their  judgment  will  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
Congress. 

COL.  DORS*EY  of  Nebraska:  I  move  the  adoption  of  the  Resolution 
just  read. 

JOHN  R.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  This  Resolution  comes  to  us  this  morn- 
ing somewhat  in  the  nature  of  a  surprise.  If  this  was  a  church  social 
where  prize  grab-bags  were  in  order  it  would  be  very  interesting  because 
then  we  would  pay  our  money  and  take  our  fortune,  but  this  Resolution 
has  been  already  brought  before  the  subcommittee  on  Resolutions  and  it 
has  been  known  -that  it  was  there  presented.  The  Colorado  delegation  of 
this  Congress  had  met  in  caucus  upon  this  resolution  and  unanimously, 
in  a  friendly  spirit,  and  with  the  very  highest  desire  for  co-operation  with 
all  the  mining  interests  and  delegates  represented  in  this  Convention, 
agreed  it  to  be  unwise  that  this  Resolution  be  passed  for  reasons  that 
I  will  give  you  in  connection  with  others  in  all  probability  in  a  mo- 
ment, and  so  they  unanimously  drew  up  a  set  of  Resolutions  addressed  to 
the  Committee  upon  Resolutions  and  the  subcommittee,  in  regard  to  this 


100  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

Resolution  from  Utah,  asking  that  this  Resolution  be  not  reported.  We 
met  with  the  sub-committee  in  connection  with  the  representatives  from 
the  state  of  Utah,  and  were  very  generously  heard,  and  then  were  told 
that  the  sub-committee  upon  Resolutions  had  declined  this  Resolution,  and 
we  supposed  that  the  battle  was  over.  Now  to  come  here  this  morning 
and  find  that  the  whole  matter  has  once  more  been  brought  upon  the  floor 
is  a  surprise  to  us.  Not  that  we  are  unwilling  to  bring  this  matter  to 
the  Convention,  but  we  did  feel  that  the  place  to  have  settled  it  was  be- 
fore the  Committee.  We  are  glad  we  were  here  in  time  and  knew  that 
this  procedure  was  taken.  I  don't  know  just  what  authority  the  consti- 
tution and  by-laws  give  the  directors  in  this  matter,  but  I  suppose  if  this 
Convention  sees  fit  to  hand  over  this  deliberative  function  to  the  executive 
department  of  this  Congress  and  allow  it  to  act  for  them,  that  then  the 
Board  of  Directors  would  have  that  authority  and  the  question  then  is 
the  advisability  of  having  this  resolution  carried  out.  It  is  an  affirmative 
proposition  for  the  Board  of  Directers. 

Just  a  word  now  in  regard  to  why  we  think  this  Resolu- 
tion or  the  statement  of  facts  in  this  Resolution  should  not 
be  approved.  In  the  first  place  we  believe  that  it  is  not  advisable  for 
this  Congress  to  name  any  specific  school  of  mining  as  its  representative 
for  any  division  of  mining  country.  To  say  that  the  laboratory  of  the 
Utah  school  or  the  Colorado  school  that  the  Missouri  school,  or  the  Kan- 
sas school  or  the  Oklahoma  school  or  any  other  of  these  schools  should  be 
the  official  representative  of  this  Congress  seems  to  us  would  be  a  great 
mistake.  Just  what  it  would  be  if  we  were  to  designate  one  particular 
engineer  as  the  official  engineer  of  this  Mining  Congress.  As  our  friends — 
and  they  are  our  friends,  we  love  our  friends,  we  are  one  with  them,  we 
would  not  do  anything  in  this  world  to  lay  a  straw  in  the  way  of  the  devel- 
opment of  their  interests,  but  they  themselves  have  said  before  the  sub- 
committe  that  this  action  would  give  their  school  prestige.  Can  you  or  I 
afford  to  select  in  invidious  distinction  any  one  of  our  splendid  mining 
schools  of  which  we  are  so  justly  proud — can  we  afford,  gentlemen,  under 
any  circumstances,  by  our  action,  to  specifically  say  that  this  one  shall  have 
prestige  over  the  ether  one?  I«take  it  that  we  cannot.  That  that  would  be 
an  invidious  distinction. 

COL.  DORSET  of  Nebraska:  Yield  to  me  a  moment  so  that  I  may 
read  this  resolution.  I  am  sure  you  do  not  understand  it. 

JOHN  R.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  If  I  am  out  of  order  I  should  be  glad 
to  hear  it. 

COL.  DORSET:  (Reads  Resolution.)  Now  you  have  got  it  before 
you.  I  do  not  see  how  you  can  charge  bad  faith  on  our  part. 

JOHN  R.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  Thank  you.  Mr.  Chairman,  Gentlemen 
of  this  Congress:  I  had  not  thought  for  an  instant — be  it  far  from  me,  to 
attack  the  committee  for  bad  faith.  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  if  there  is  any- 
thing in  the  thought  that  has  come  to  you.  I  never  dreamed  that  the 
committee  was  acting  in  bad  faith. 

And  furthermore,  it  seems  to  me  that  this  resolution  that  is  brought 
before  us  this  morning  is  simply  -going  home  around  Robin  Hood's  barn. 
It  is  another  way  of  getting  to  Carthage  than  going  by  way  of  Webb 
City. 

In  regard  to  the  equipment  of  the  Colorado  School  of  Mines,  I  will 
pass  that  up  to  men  more  competent  to  speak  of  that.  I  do  not  know  how 
many  schools  of  mines  there  are,  possibly  you  know. 

COL.  DORSET:  Five. 

MR.  JOSEPH  of  Utah:  One— only  one. 

MR.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  Possibly  five.  Our  brother  here  says  only 
one.  Do  I  need  to  say  any  more?  The  delegate  from  Utah  has  boasted, 
there  is  but  one  school  of  mines.  Gentlemen,  when  you  and  I  are  in  Con- 
gress assembled,  it  seems  to  me  the  time  has  come  to  sink  our  individual 
interests  in  the  interest  of  the  entire  mining  region  of  this  great  United 
States  of  our.  (Applause.)  Instead  of  boasting  of  one  school,  let  us  boast 
of  five.  Therefore,  I  ask  you  that  you  will  under  no  circumstances  what- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  101 

ever  pass  up  your  privilege  of  deciding  these  questions  by  even  our 
Board  of  Directors,  but  settle  it  on  the  floor  of  this  Congress  this  morn- 
ing. 

M'R.  JOHN  BERN  of  Utah:  Mr.  President,  Delegates  and  Members 
of  the  Convention:  I  am  not  going  to  enlarge  on  this  subject  very  ex- 
tensively but  I  think  it  my  duty  as  the  originator  of  the  Resolution  to  givo 
you  the  plain  facts  and  the  purposes  for  which  this  Resolution  of  mine 
was  introduced.  Indeed,  I  am  very  much  surprised  at  the  attitude  of 
the  gentleman  from  Colorado.  He  cannot  confine  himself  to  the  facts,  but 
is  simply  trying  to  attack  and  misconstrue  our  Resolution  to  be  one  for  the 
advancement  of  the  school  of  Utah.  This  Congress  was  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  accomplishing  things.  When  our  advance  sheets  were  sent  out 
by  the  Executive  Committee,  or  the  Committee  on  Program,  this  fall, 
which  only  reached  the  members  and  delegates  a  few  weeks  ago,  one  of 
the  items  specified  was  the  purpose  of  this  Congress  to  establish  experi- 
mental stations  in  the  West  where  ores  could  be  tested  and  by  which  the 
poor  prospector  would  be  able  to  have  his  ores  tested  without  going  to  the 
expense  of  having  these  ores  tested  by  an  expert  elsewhere.  Being  a 
bright  young  man  myself,  and  closely  connected  with  the  Congress,  I 
thought  we  might  have  an  opportunity  here  to  do  something  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  Congress  and  for  the  mining  industry.  Realizing  that  three 
years  have  elapsed  since  we  voted  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  home 
at  Denver  in  which  home  it  is  intended  to  establish  not  only  laboratories, 
but  other  information  on  geology  and  mining,  equip  it  with  the  most  mod- 
ern and  up-to-date  testing  plant  to  test  ores  of  the  miners — for  all  those 
who  desire  them  to  be  tested.  I  figured  that  so  little  progress  had  been 
made  it  would  probably  be  years  before  such  equipment  should  be  es- 
tablished or  the  building  erected.  I  thought  after  talking  wjth  the  professors 
of  our  university  and  with  a  number  of  our  members,  it  might  be  a 
good  thing  to  have  the  University  of  Utah  offer  the  service  of  our  State 
School  of  Mines.  Other  schools  have  the  same  opportunity  to  offer  their 
services  to  advance  the  cause  of  the  mining  interests  of  the  country.  This 
offer  was  made  in  the  best  of  faith  and  I  believe  it  is  a  step  in  the  right 
direction.  I  trust  you  will  vote  in  support  of  the  Resolution  as  it  is  in- 
troduced, as  it  is  plainly  stated  in  there  that  it  is  proposed  to  make  the 
Utah  school  AN  experimental  station,  not  THE  experimental  station. 

DR.  V.  C.  ALDERSON  of  Colorado:  In  speaking  on  this  matter  I 
should  like  to  refer  to  what  Mr.  Dern  has  said  because  it  applies  to  every 
school  of  the  United  States,  that  it  is  located  in  a  mining  locality.  How- 
ever, I  thing  the  gist  of  this  question  is  just  here:  Is  it  within  the  province 
of  the  American  Congress  to  have  any  official  School  of  Mines,  any  offi- 
cial testing  plant,  any  official  jig,  any  official  concentrating  table.  If  this 
resolution  passes  gentlemen,  it  will  open  the  door  for  people  to  come 
in  here  and  ask  for  the  official  recognition  of  everything  that  is  used  in 
mines  and  you,  gentlemen,  will  have  to  approve  or  disapprove  of  it.  I 
don't  want  to  get  into  an  argument  with  regard  to  the  relative  advantages 
of  the  different  schools.  If  necessary,  I  could  give  many  reasons  why  the 
Colorado  School  of  Mines  should  be  recognized  officially.  But  I  would 
not  ask  that  my  school  be  designated  or  our  testing  plant  designated  as 
the  official  testing  plant  for  the  American  Mining  Congress  because  in 
the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  belive  it  would  be  a  bad  thing  for  the  American 
Mining  Congress.  As  our  President  has  said  so  well  from  this  platform, 
the  idea  with  us  should  be  co-operation.  I  tell  you,  gentlemen,  it  is  a 
dangerous  thing  to  begin  on.  I  think  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  ought 
to  be  extended  to  the  Utah  School  of  Mines  and  to  the  Utah  delegation 
for  their  sincerity  and  their  kindness  in  making  this  offer,  but  I  believe 
it  would  be  utterly  dangerous  to  accept  it  because  it  would  open  the  door 
for  many  other  and  greater  errors  that  might  be  performed  by  this  Con- 
gress. I  tell  you,  gentlemen,  this  Congress  cannot  afford  to  give  its  of- 
ficial sanction  to  any  such  plan.  It  will  come  back  to  us  in  years  to  come 
and  we  will  regret  it.  The 'American  Mining  Congress  must  be  too  big 
for  that.  I  think  the  Utah  school  can  do  its  work  in  helping  miners  just  as 
well  without  our  official  recognition  as  with  it.  We  in  Colorado  will  do 


102  OFFICIAL,   PROCEEDINGS 

our  work  along  that  line  in  the  same  old  regulation  way.  We  should  not 
pass  this  resolution  because,  for  the  one  reason,  if  no  other,  it  is  outside 
of  the  province  of  this  Congress  to  put  this  official  stamp  on  any  such 
thing.  I  therefore  move  you,  Mr.  President,  that  as  an  addition  to  this  or 
as  a  substitute  for  the  Resolution,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress  that 
the  thanks  of  the  Congress  be  tendered  to  the  Utah  delegation  for  calling 
our  attention  to  this  matter  and  for  their  courtesy  and  kindly  suggesion, 
but  that  it  is  beyond  the  province  of  this  Congress  to  accept  it. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that  it  is 
the  sense  of  this  Congress  that  the  thanks  of  the  Congress  be  tendered 
the  Utah  delegation  for  calling  our  attention  to  this  matter,  but  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  Congress  that  we  are  not  authorized  to  endorse  the  propo- 
sition. 

COL.  DORSET  of  Nebraska:  This  proposition  does  not  designate  the 
Utah  school.  The  resolution  refers  the  entire  matter  to  the  Board  of 
.Directors.  If  you  do  not  have  any  confidence  in  your  Board  of  Directors, 
then  vote  for  the  motion  made  by  my  friend  from  Colorado. 

DR.  ALDERSON  of  Colorado:  Don't  put  it  that  way,  because  we  have 
have  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  Board  of  Directors. 

COL.  DORSET  of  Nebraska:  Let  me  read  it.  I  repeat  what  I  said, 
if  you  vote  down  this  resolution  and  sustain  Dr.  Alderson's  motion,  you 
display  a  lack  of  confidence  in  your  Board  of  Directors.  Under  this  Reso- 
lution the  entire  matter  goes  to  your  Board  of  Directors  for  action. 

MR.  JOSEPH  of  Utah:  Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Utah 
came  here  in  all  sincerity  and  made  this  proffer.  The  proffer  in  the  origi- 
nal manner  in  which  it  was  presented  was  turned  down  by  the  sub-  com- 
mittee of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  It  was  then  referred  back  to  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions  and  the  report  of  the  sub-committee  was 
adopted,  and  they  offered  a  substitute  to  the  effect  that  Utah  should  be 
thanked  by  this  Congress  for  the  kindly  proffer,  but  they  did  not  think  it 
expedient  to  take  up  any  school  as  the  official  experimental  station  of  the 
Congress.  This  morning  I  went  before  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  of 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  a  member,  and  offered  this  Resolution  as  it 
was  here  presented  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  Not 
one  voice  of  protest  was  raised  against  the  unanimous  adoption  of  that 
Resolution  at  that  time.  The  man  who  made  the  motion  to  adopt  the  Reso- 
lution was  a  delegate  from  Colorado.  I  appeal  to  the  gentleman  from 
Colorado. 

MR.  WOOD  of  Colorado:  I  rise  to  a  point  of  information.  If  the 
Colorado  representative  on  the  committee  moved  the  adoption  of  the 
Resolution,  we  knew  nothing  about  it  and  had  no  hearing. 

MR.  MILLS  of  Colorado:  The  Colorado  delegation  had  a  meeting 
last  night  and  at  that  meeting,  I  as  a  member  from  Colorado,  explained  to 
them  what  the  sub-committee  had  passed  upon  and  the  substitute  which 
they  proposed  to  offer  to  the  committee  this  morning  .  That  was  entirely 
satisfactory  to  the  Colorado  delegation.  This  morning  the  general  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions  accepted  and  ordered  reported  the  Resolution  sug- 
gested by  the  sub-committee.  This  morning  a  motion  to  re-consider  was 
made  and  M'r.  Joseph  at  that  time  offered  as  a  substitute  this  Resolution 
which  we  have  here  this  morning.  As  the  Resolution  or  substitute  offered 
by  Mr.  Joseph  did  not  designate  any  school  as  the  official  experimental 
station,  but  left  it  open  for  the  Board  of  Directors  to  act  upon  the  applica- 
tion of  any  school  to  be  so  named,  I  did  not  consider  that  the  Colorado  dele- 
gation would  object  at  all.  In  fact,  I  had  no  opportunity  to  consult  with 
the  Colorado  delegation  and  ascertain  their  views  and  I  acted  simply  on 
my  own  initiative  and  am  perfectly  willing  to  stand  by  that. 

MR.  JOSEPH  of  Utah:  In  justice  to  Mr.  Mills,  I  want  to  state  that 
I  substantiate  the  statement  he  has  made,  but  there  was  no  intention  on 
the  part  of  the  Utah  delegation  to  take  any  snap  judgment.  I  have  seen 
these  fights  between  schools  and  I  know  what  they  mean*,  but  this  is  not 
the  place  nor  the  time  for  the  Colorado  School  of  Mines  or  the  Utah 
School  of  Mines  to  fight  or  to  bring  before  the  Congress  their  respective 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  103 

• 

merits.  We  are  here  for  the  general  good  of  the  people — of  all  the 
people.  This  is  an  American  institution,  not  a  local  institution.  Now 
Mr.  Chairman,  in  order  to  show  Colorado  that  we  are  sincere  and  we  de- 
sire to  extend  the  olive  branch  of  peace,  because  peace  is  what  we  want, 
and  we  are  going  to  have  peace  if  we  have  to  fight  for  it,  I  desire  to  offer 
this  as  an  amendment.  As  I  understand  there  is  a  motion,  Mr.  Chairman, 
and  I  offer  as  an  amendment  to  the  motion  that  the  last  clause  of  the  reso- 
lution be  made  to  read  as  follows:  "Be  it  further  resolved  ttiat  the  thanks 
of  this  Congress  are  hereby  tendered  to  the  University  of  Utah  for  its 
generous  offer  and  that  the  matter  of  accepting  said  offers  and  any  other 
offers  which  may  be  made  to  this  Congress  and  of  designating  said  labora- 
tories or  any  other  laboratories  which  may  be  offered  as  official  experi- 
mental stations  of  this  Congress  is  hereby  referred  to  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors for  such  action  as  in  their  judgment  will  be  for  the  best  interests 
of  this  Congress." 

MR.  HOWELL  of  Colorado:  When  reference  was  first  made  to  this 
matter  this  morning  it  was  stated  that  the  whole  matter  was  settled.  We 
were  so  informed.  It  is  unquestionably  true  that  Utah  is  represented  here 
by  one  of  the  most  active  delegations  that  ever  represented  any  common- 
wealth in  any  convention.  It  is  true  and  it  was  admitted  by  the  chair- 
man of  their  delegation  that  they  wanted  the  matter  referred  to  the  Board 
of  Directors  without  giving  anybody  a  chance  to  act  upon  it.  We  don't 
want  to  wash  any  dirty  linen  and  yet  I  say  our  position  is  not  that  we 
want  you  to  endorse  the  Golden  School  of  Mines  or  any  other.  We  take 
the  position  that  it  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  this  Congress  that  we  should 
endorse  any  specific  school.  Now,  gentlemen,  I  want  to  say  to  you,  we 
have  a  right  to  contest  this  matter.  It  was  introduced  by  one  of  our 
directors.  He  says  so  himself.  It  is  being  advocated  by  another  one  of 
our  directors.  He  says  himself  he  wants  to  see  this  resolution  passed.  I 
say  it  should  not  be  left  to  the  Board  of  Directors.  You  charge  us  with 
insincerity.  Your  own  argument  has  given  us  the  right  to  charge  it  for 
trying  to  shove  something  down  us.  The  proposition  is  one  that  we  should 
not  handle  at  all — we  should  either  endorse  it  or  let  it  alone.  Let  us  not 
put  the  responsibility  on  some  one  else.  We  don't  want  you  to  endorse  the 
School  at  Golden  as  Golden  can  stand  on  her  own  merits  and  .so  can  any 
other  mining  school.  I  say  the  whole  matter  ought  to  be  settled  here  and 
now,  and  we  ought  to  decide  to  either  endorse  this  school  or  we  ought  to 
take  it  entirely  out  of  the  hands  of  the  directors. 

GEO.  H.  BRIMHALL  of  Utah:  Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 
It  appears  to  me  that  there  is  nothing  novel  in  accepting  the  offer  made 
by.  Utah,  at  least  to  the  extent  of  turning  it  over  to  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors as  to  the  wisdom  of  acceptance  or  rejection. 

MR.  CANTWELL  of  Missouri:  In  the  Kilkenny-cat  fight  between 
Colorado  and  Utah  it  is  perhaps  unwise  for  any  member  of  the  Missouri 
delegation  to  inject  himself,  because  he  is  liable  to  get  scratched.  There 
is  a  distinction,  however,  between  the  endorsement  of  an  educational  in- 
stitution or  a  state  official  school  of  mines  and  the  endorsement  of  a  man's 
mining  scheme  or  any  man's  concentrator.  There  is  no  parallel  between 
the  two  propositions.  There  is  no  more  impropriety  in  this  Congress 
or  its  Board  of  Directors  endorsing  the  state  school  of  mines  officially 
or  accepting  the  offer  of  a  state  school  of  mines  to  treat  ores  at  cost, 
than  there  would  be  In  a  Farmers'  Institute  endorsing  state  agricultural 
schools.  Therefore,  that  objection  to  this  endorsement  is  certainly  not 
well  taken. 

The  objection  that  thereby  one  school  of  mines  may  be  given  added 
prestige  is  perhaps  well  taken,  but  Utah,  it  appears,  is  the  only  school  of 
mines  that  has  yet  made  this  generous  offer.  I  only  call  attention  to  these 
two  points.  So  far  as  Colorado  is  concerned,  if  the  gentlemen  would -ac- 
cept the  suggestion,  add  to  the  original  resolution  that  whenever  Colorado 
should  duplicate  the  generous  offer  of  Utah,  then  the  directors  might 
and  should  so  order  to  make  an  endorsement  of  the  State  School  of  Mines 
of  Colorado  as  one  of  the  official  experimental  stations. 


104  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

MR.  HOWELL  of  Colorado:  Will  the  gentleman  kindly  refrain  from 
the  position  that  we  are  opposing  Utah.  We  do  not  ask  it  for  Colorado. 
We  are  hot  in  that  position  at  all.  We  are  not  proposing  that  the  Congress 
endorse  Colorado  or  any  other  school.  We  do  not  want  endorsement  for 
Colorado. 

MR.  CANTWELL  of  Missouri:  The  reason  why  the  question  of  the  en- 
dorsement of  Utah's  offer  alone  is  not  properly  before  this  Congress  is 
because  it  is  the  only  offer  and  because  the  Congress  will  not  remain  in 
continuous  session.  Yet  I  take  it,  whenever  a  similar  public  institution 
makes  a  similar  offer,  then  the  Board  of  Directors  can  act  upon  that  also. 

MR.  RITER  of  Utah:  I  want  to  say  a  word,  not  from  the  standpoint 
of  a  member  of  the  Utah  delegation,  but  from  the  standpoint  of  a  mining 
engineer,  who  has  business  which  takes  him  out  of  the  state  of  Utah. 

I  have  often  been  placed  in  a  position  where  the  opportunity  to  use 
some  of  the  laboratories  of  our  state  would  be  a  great  boon.  I  have  inter- 
ests in  another  state  which  has  no  school  of  mines  and  where  no  private 
individual  has  established  laboratories  such  as  it  is  proposed  to  give  us  the 
use  of  by  the  offer  of  the  Utah  School  of  Mines.  I  should  have  some  hesi- 
tancy in  sending  my  ores  from  outside  the  state  into  the  laboratories  of 
the  School  of  Mines  of  Utah.  However,  if  the  resolution  passed,  and  in  this 
way  the  American  Mining  Congress  endorsed  this  school,  it  would  put  me 
in  a  different  position.  I  feel  that  the  Congress  should  take  such  action. 

COL.  DORSEY  of  Nebraska:  I  ask  the  chair  to  state  what  is  the  mo- 
tion now  pending. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  first  question  is  as  to  the  amendment. 
All  in  favor  of  the  amendment  signify  the  same  by  saying  "aye."  Con- 
trary by  the  same  sign.  The  chair  is  in  doubt. 

All  in  favor  of  the  amendment  will  signify  the  same  by  standing  un- 
til counted  by  the  Secretary. 

A  rising  vote  was  taken  and  the  Secretary  announced  forty-four  votes 
in  favor  -and  sixty-three  against.  . 

MR.  JOSEPH  of  Utah:  M'r.  Chairman,  we  are  entitled  to  a  roll  call 
on  this  point. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  Mr.  Joseph  under  the  rules  is  entitled  to 
a  roll  call. 

MR.'  HOWELL  of  Colorado:  I  move  that  the  entire  matter  be  laid 
upon  the  table. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  question  now  arises  on  the  motion  to 
lay  this  whole  matter  on  the  table.  All  in  favor  of  the  motion  say  "aye." 
Those  opposed  signify  the  same  by  saying  "no."  The  ayes  seem  to  have  it. 
The  matter  is  therefore  laid  on  the  table. 

COL.  DORSEY  of  Nebraska:  I  report  back  Resolution  No.  14,  which 
I  ask  the  Secretary  to  read. 

The  Secretary  then  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Resolution  No.  14. 
(Introduced  by  James  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  of  Colorado.) 

Whereas,  The  laws  and  regulations  governing  and  controlling  mining 
operations  in  the  territory  of  Alaska,  being  largely  designed  for  the  regu- 
lation of  mining  under  conditions  substantially  different  from  those  ex- 
isting in  that  territory,  and 

Whereas,  The  American  Mining  Congress  has  been  frequently  called 
upon  by  those  interested  in  the  Alaskan  mining  operations,  for  assistance 
in  the  creation  of  remedies  for  unnecessary  burdens  and  restrictions  now 
resting  upon  the  development  of  the  mining  industry  of  that  section,  and 

Whereas,  This  organization  has  not  been  sufficiently  well  advised  as  to 
the  conditions'  there  existing  to  render  intelligent  assistance  in  those 
matters  which  have  been  called  to  its  attention;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Congress  be  authorized  to  ap- 
point a  committee  of  three  members  to  investigate  into  the  conditions 
existing  in  Alaska,  and  the  laws  and  regulations  controlling  its  mining 
operations;  to  render  such  assistance  to  the  mining  men  of  Alaska  as  may 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  105 

seem  proper  and  advisable  under  the  advice  and  control  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  American  Mining  Congress,  and  to  report  at  its  Eleventh 
Annual  Session  such  recommendations  as  may  seem  desirable. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  resolution  be  adopted.  On  being 
put  was  unanimously  carried. 

COL.  DORSE Y  of  Nebraska:  I  have  another  resolution  I  am  directed 
to  report— Resolution  No.  13,  by  J.  H.  Richards,  I  will  ask  the  Secretary 
to  read  it. 

Secretary  reads  as  follows: 

Resolution   No.  13. 

(Introduced  by  J.  H.  Richards  of  Idaho.) 

The  American  Mining  Congress  in  its  Tenth  Annual  Session  again 
commends  the  efforts  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  behalf  of 
a  wise  and  just  disposition  of  the  remaining  public  lands  in  the  interest 
of  the  actual  settler  and  the  bona  fide  miner. 

It  also  joins  the  President  in  asking  the  Federal  Congress  to  pass  such 
legislation  relative  to  the  coal  and  other  fuel  resources  still  owned  by  the 
government,  as,  while  continuing  this  ownership  by  the  government. 

(1)  Will  encourage  their  development  by  providing  conditions  favor- 
able for  modern  mining  operations. 

(2)  Will  prevent  all  unnecessary  waste  of  these  resources. 

(3)  Will  make  certain  the  use  of  these  resources  in  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  whole  people  of  the  West;  and 

(4)  Will   separate   the    surface   development   of  these   coal   and   oil 
lands  for  agriculture,  forests  or  grazing  from  the  development  of  the  un- 
derground or  fuel  resources. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  the  resolution  be  adopted,  which  motion 
was  unanimously  adopted. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  I  have  here  an  official  telegram  from  tire 
Trans-Mississippi  Congress,  inviting  this  Congress  to  send  delegates  to 
its  session  to  be  held  in  Muskogee  next  week.  We  are  anxious  to  have 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress  adopt  the  resolution  which  you  adopted 
yesterday.  Mr.  Bailey,  just  coming  from  there,  will  make  a  very  brief 
statement,  which  I  think  you  ought  to  hear  before  any  action  is  taken 
on  that  matter. 

MR.  BAILEY,  OF  OKLAHOMA:  Mr.  President,  Gentlemen  of  the 
Congress:  We  do  not  only  sent  you  this  telegram  officially  from  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Congress,  but  we  come  here  personally  to  invite  you  to  attend 
that  meeting  and  participate  in  the  deliberations.  Bring  to  Muskogee 
those  questions  which  remain  unsettled  in  your  splendid  meeting  here. 
The  new  state  of  Oklahoma  comes  to  you  the  fledgling  in  the  sisterhood 
of  the  American  commonwealths.  The  State  of  Oklahoma  can  entertain 
you  practical  hard-headed  mining  business  men.  The  new  state  of  Okla- 
homa has,  I  venture,  the  vastest  fields  of  virgin  untouched  coal  in  the 
United  States.  We  have  the  finest  oil  field  of  the  United  States— the 
biggest  production,  I  think  that  has  ever  been  known  in  the  country- 
gas  in  unlimited  quantities.  We  have  the  same,  perhaps  not  as  large,  a 
field  as  Joplin,  Webb  City  and  southwestern  Missouri,  but  we  have  lead 
and  zinc  undeveloped.  We  are  interested  in  establishing  a  Department 
or  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Mining.  (Applause.)  We  have  this  early,  even 
before  the  first  meeting  of  our  Legislature,  a  plan  on  foot  to  establish 
a  splendid  School  of  Mines.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress  we  will  be  here  bidding  with  Utah  for  a  spot-light  position, 
and  I  warn  you  right  now,  we  will  get  what  Utah  fell  down  on.  (Ap- 
plause.) When  you  come  to  Muskogee  you  will  see  that  on  the  register 
of  delegates  that  have  been  sent  to  Secretary  Francis  there  are  2,500 
delegates.  Gentlemen,  if  we  have  a  50  per  cent,  of  that  attendance  we 
will  have  the  most  magnificent  of  all  the  Congresses  for  sixteen  years. 
Ninety  per  cent,  of  its  recommendations  have  ben  adopted  by  the  Na- 
tional Congress.  There  will  be  governors  from  every  state  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  Come,  We  will  welcome  you,  give  you  the  glad  hand, 


106  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

and  entertain  you  right.     To-morrow  we  will  become  a  state  and  then 
we  can  entertain  you.     Come  to  Muskogee  Tuesday.     (Applause.) 

A  motion  was  made  to  accept  the  invitation  and  that  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  attend  in  accordance  with  the  telegram. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded  and  put  was  unanimously  carried. 

In  accordance  with  resolution  the  following  communication  was  sent: 

COL.  DORSEY,  OF  NEBRASKA:  The  special  order  is  the  considera- 
tion of  the  report  of  the  committee,  made  by  Mr..  Downey  as  Chairman, 
in  reference  to  the  appointment  of  the  committee  of  five  for  the  purpose 
of  devising  methods  of  preventing  fraudulent  mining  schemes.  I  will 
yield  now  to  Major  Vincent,  as  he  has  a  resolution  on  the  table  of  the 
Secretary  on  this  same  question. 

Joplin,  Missouri,  Nov.  15,  1907. 
To  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

Gentlemen:  The  American  Mining  Congress  sends  greetings  to  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  and  begs  to  express  the  hope 
chat  its  great  work  will  be  fostered  and  augmented  through  its  present 
session. 

Responding  to  your  telegram,  I  beg  to  appoint  as  delegates  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Dr.  J.  A.  Holmes,  Mr.  H.  L.  Scaife,  Mr.  F.  A.  Brown, 
Major  F.  C.  Vincent,  and  Col.  W.  R.  Calkins. 

This  organization  expresses  its  sincere  appreciation  of  assistance 
rendered  to  it  by  the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress  in  its  work  looking  to 
greater  co-operation  between  the  government  and  the  mniing  industry. 

I  have  requested  Mr.  Jas.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  to  present  to  your  session 
some  matters  which  we  deem  of  particular  importance  at  this  time  and 
for  which  we  ask  your  continued  support  and  co-operation. 

Respectfully, 
THE  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS, 

By  J.  H.  RICHARDS, 

President. 

MAJ.  F.  C.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  Mr.  President,  M'embers  and 
Delegates  of  the  American  Mining  Congress:  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

One  of  the  resolutions  presented  to  your  Committee  on  Resolutions, 
the  one  referring  to  the  prevention  of  fraudulent  mining  schemes,  was 
presented  before  I  was  advised  of  the  action  taken  at  your  last  session, 
when  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  devise  means  of  putting  an 
end  to  such  illegitimate  transactions.  That  committee  has  presented 
this  printed  report,  which  has  been  scattered  broadcast  amongst  the 
members  of  this  convention.  The  report  shows  a  vast  amount  of  indi- 
vidual work  on  the  part  of  the  committee  on  this  particular  proposition. 
While  they  were  at  work  on  behalf  of  this  Congress,  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  in  other  states  of  this  Union  many  other  people  were  at  work  on 
identically  this  same  proposition.  Speaking  for  the  legitimate  mining 
men  of  Kansas  City,  I  can  say  we  also  considered  this  proposition  in  all 
its  phases.  Almost  every  one  of  the  recommendations  made  by  the  com- 
mittee of  which  Mr.  Downey  is  Chairman  was  considered  by  us. 

After  examining  the  laws  of  the  various  states  we  finally  arrived  at 
the  conclusion  that  the  entire  matter  could  be  accomplished  by  urging 
the  attorneys  general  of  the  various  states  and  the  departments  of  justice 
of  the  United  States  to  thoroughly  enforce  the  laws  now  on  their  statute 
books.  I  say  to  you  gentlemen  that  ninety  per  cent,  of  these  swindling 
operations  have  been  made  possible  by  the  non-enforcement  of  the  law, 
and  that  if  the  laws  had  been  properly  applied  if  the  attorneys  general 
of  the  various  states  would  enforce  the  law,  these  men  could  not  have 
placed  upon  the  name  of  mining  the  blot  that  now  rests  there.  Inasmuch 
as  this  report  recommends  that  a  committee  be  appointed,  the  majority 
of  whom  shall  be  lawyers,  who  shall  endeavor  to  frame  and  shall  be  in- 
strumental in  placing  on  the  statute  books  of  the  various  states  laws 
that  will  cover  adequately  the  questions,  off-hand,  I  am  in  favor  of  refer- 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  107 

ring  this  whole  matter  back  to  that  committee  and  let  them  frame  a  law 
that  will  be  absolutely  feasible. 

1  am  not  going  to  talk  further  on  this  resolution.  I  am  going  to 
make  a  motion  that  inasmuch  as  part  of  this  resolution  refers  to  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  composed  mostly  of  attorneys,  to  frame  a 
law  or  to  have  placed  upon  the  statute  books  a  law  that  will  hold  water 
and  that  will  be  the  best  possible  proposition  for  this  Congress,  that  this 
entire  matter  be  referred  to  this  committee  and  that  no  further  action 
be  taken  on  it  by  this  Congress  at  this  time. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  That  is  the  report  of  the  special 
committee  of  five  that  has  not  been  before  the  Committee  on  Resolu- 
tions? 

MAJ.  VINCENT:     I  understand  that. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  You  have  heard  the  motion  that  the  mat- 
ter be  referred  to  the  special  committee  of  five,  the  majority  of  whom 
shall  be  lawyers,,  who  after  further  action  shall  report  to  the  next  session. 
What  shall  we  do  with  the  motion?  Do  I  hear  a  second? 

MR.  DOWNEY,  OF  COLORADO:  If  no  one  else  wants  to  discuss 
this  question  I  am  willing  they  should  do  so,  but  if  no  one  else  intends  to, 
I  want  to  do  so. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:      Mr.  Downey  has  the  floor. 

MR.  DOWNEY:  In  the  first  place,  I  don't  understand  the  resolution 
that  Mr.  Vincent  has  himself  introduced.  As  I  understand  it,  that  reso- 
lution was  to  be  added  on  the  report. 

MAJ.  VINCENT:  Mr.  Downey,  for  your  information  and  for  the 
information  of  the  Congress  I  will  say  that  not  knowing  that  a  committee 
had  been  appointed  to  consider  this  question  I  had  previously  introduced 
a  resolution  somewhat  similar.  I  am  not  going  to  urge  the  passage  of 
that  resolution,  in  deference  to  Mr.  Downey's  report,  but  I  am  willing 
to  have  that  resolution  and  the  report  of  the  committee  referred  back 
to  the  committee  of  five. 

MR.  DOWNEY:  It  will  be  clearly  understood  that  the  committee 
making  this  report  proposed  a  standing  committee  on  investment  legisla- 
tion and  that  we  have  distinctly  stated  in  here  that  that  committee  shall 
take  charge  of  any  uncompleted  business  which  might  pass  over  from 
the  committee  that  is  now  retiring.  There  are  certain  portions  of  this 
report  that  it  seems  to  me  this  Congress  ought  to  pass  on.  The  com- 
mittee that  has  been  serving  you  during  the  past  year  has  made  this 
report  unanimously.  I  have  just  this  morning  received  a  letter  from 
Ex-Governor  Mclntire  of  Colorado  on  this  point.  He  has  not  been  with 
us,  but  has  kept  in  touch  with  this  matter  by  correspondence.  Now  it 
seems  to  me  that  the  feelings  of  the  five  members  of  this  committee  who 
have  devoted  a  year  to  this  matter  should  have  a  little  consideration. 
We  have  talked  this  matter  over  and  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
whole  trouble  with  this  entire  question  is  that  the  fakir  does  not  have 
to  put  himself  on  record.  This  argument  about  retarding  development 
I  don't  think  holds  water.  You  speak  of  the  prospector  as  though  he 
were  constantly  organizing  corporations.  That  is  not  the  case.  It  is  only 
when  the  prospector,  by  the  aid  of  some  promoter  in  some  city  some- 
where, seeks  to  organize  a  corporation  in  such  a  way  as  to  deceive  those 
at  a  distance,  that  we  demand  of  him  that  he  place  himself  on  record. 
That  does  not  retard  development  in  the  slightest.  If  it  retards  develop- 
ment it  had  better  do  it.  That  is  my  position  on  the  matter.  If  the 
prospector  of  the  West  has  to  unload  his  property  on  Eastern  investors 
at  a  price  far  in  excess  of  what  it  is  worth  and  what  he  paid  for  it,  then 
I  say  let  him  fail.  That  is  the  point.  I  don't  believe  there  are  many 
prospectors  who  are  deceitful.  This  Congress  certainly  should  place  itself 
on  record  with  respect  to  this  matter.  I  want  to  say  that  the  master-spirit 
in  favor  of  publicity  in  cases  of  this  kind  is  our  President,  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  to  whom  we  are  now  going  for  a  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Mining, 
and  if  you  want  to  please  him  on  the  side  without  any  sentiment  thrown 


108  OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 

in,  you  might  consider  this  would  please  him  in  that  respect.  This  com- 
mittee's report  states  very  distinctly  that  the  legislation  offered  here  is  a 
type.  I  don't  want  to  argue  with  the  gentleman  from  Kansas  City  on 
the  question  of  constitutionality  of  any  measure — I  am  not  an  attorney 
and  don't  profess  to  be, — at  the  same  time,  if  I  wanted  take  the  time 
and  do  so,  I  could  show  him,  I  believe,  that  there  was  two  sides  to  the 
question.  I  have  here  one  decision.  I  took  a  copy  of  it  because  it  is 
typical  of  the  position  which  the  courts  of  the  mining  states  seem  to  take 
on  this  subject  of  prospective  value.  This  is  a  case  before  the  Colorado 
Court  of  Appeals,  afterwards  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court: 

"In  the  case  of  corporations  organized  under  the  laws  of  this  state 
for  the  development  of  mining  property,  the  capitalization  may  be,  and 
usually  is,  fixed  with  reference  to  'prospective'  value;  that  is,  to  value, 
which,  in  the  judgment  of  the  parties,  the  property  actually  has,  but 
which  development  is  necessary  to  disclose  ;  and  if  such  value  is  esti- 
mated in  good  faith,  we  think  the  stock  issued  in  consideration  of  a  trans- 
fer of  the  property  should  be  so  regarded  as  full  paid,  notwithstanding 
the  parties'  judgment  should  afterwards  prove  to  be  erroneous."  Buck 
v.  Jones,  18  Colo.  App.  250,  70  Pac.  951. 

Strange  to  say  that  decision  was  rendered  in  a  case  in  which  the 
very  opposite  result  was  arrived  at  so  far  as  the  decision  was  concerned. 
In  other  words,  the  case  involved  the  transfer  of  property  to  a  corpora- 
tion upon  which  mineral  in  place  had  not  been  discovered.  I  believe 
that  is  in  some  way  the  effect  of  your  resolution.  As  that  is  contrary  to 
the  United  States  statutes,  the  court  declared  that  such  property  was  of 
no  value  because  mineral  in  place  was  not  discovered.  Therefore  the 
property  was  of  no  value  and  could  not  be  given  in  exchange  for  stock  of 
a  corporation. 

This  shows  that  the  court  of  that  state  has  given  its  sanction  to  the 
idea  that  full-paid  stock  may  issue  for  property  of  value.  In  fact,  that  is 
being  done  every  day  in  the  year.  It  is  the  prevailing  method  of  organ- 
izing such  corporations,  and  as  I  said  it  was  the  object  of  this  committee 
not  particularly  to  sanction  that  thing,  but  to  meet  the  situation  as  it 
stands  and  to  sanction  it  with  regulation.  Regulation  is  what  is  de- 
manded. This  committee  has  offered  what  it  considers  the  best  method 
for  regulation:  I  don't  think  this  Congress  can  afford  to  turn  this  question 
down.  You  can't  afford  to  adjourn  this  convention  without  giving  your 
specific  approval  of  the  principles  stated  in  that  report,  namely,  that 
those  who  offer  their  stock  in  that  way,  based  on  prospective  values, 
with  a  view  to  deceiving  the  prospective  investor  and  persuade  him  that 
he  is  getting  something  of  greater  value,  should  be  compelled  to  put  him- 
self on,  record. 

I  am  perfectly  willing  you  should  refer  this  matter  back  to  a  com- 
mittee. There  are  no  Legislatures  meeting  in  the  West  this  winter. 
Another  session  of  the  Congress  will  be  held  before  any  Lgislature  in 
the  West  can  meet.  Therefore  I  have  no  objection  that  the  special  com- 
mittee that  is  provided  for  should  take  this  matter  under  consideration 
and  take  any  steps  it  sees  fit,  but  I  don't  want  the  idea  to  go  forth  that 
this  Congress  is  trying  to  side-track  this  proposition,  and  that  is  the 
intent,  it  seems  to  me,  of  the  motion.  That  is  the  reason  why  I  have 
taken  the  floor. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  Mr.  President,  this  is  a  very  im- 
portant question  and  there  are  some  gentlemen  here  who  wish  to  be 
heard  on  it,  but  there  is  a  special  order  for  the  selection  of  the  place  of 
holding  our  next  Congress. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  would  suggest  that  the  special  order 
be  taken  up  at  the  beginning  of  the  afternoon  session  without  anything 
else  intervening.  That  will  enable  us  to  clear  up  some  of  the  smaller 
matters. 

MR.  H.  L.  SCAIFE,  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA:  There  is  a  disposition 
on  the  part  of  people  to  make  too  many  laws.  If  you  examine  this  ques- 
tion you  will  find  that  we  have  a  statute  of  the  United  States  against 
the  fraudulent  use  of  the  mails,  but  sometimes  fraudulent  promotions 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  109 

are  made  without  using  the  mails,  and  some  are  unwise  enough  to  do  so, 
but  I  dare  say  there  is  not  a  state  in  the  Union  but  has  sufficient  laws 
against  frauds,  getting  money  under  false  pretenses,  to  amply  protect 
the  investor  if  the  law  was  enforced.  Now,  gentlemen,  it  would  be  a  wise 
thing  for  us  to  frame  a  general  law  on  this  subject,  but  as  I  see  it,  we 
have  not  as  yet  sufficient  information  upon  which  to  base  such  a  law, 
so  I  think  it  would  be  wise  for  this  Congress  to  appoint  a  committee, 
to  get  this  additional  information  and  report  at  the  next  meeting. 

MR.  WIRE,  OF  ILLINOIS:  The  tendency  of  the  times  is  toward 
publicity,  toward  the  clearing  away  of  the  mists,  to  divest  this  business 
from  the  glittering  generalities  of  the  promoter  or  the  stock  seller,  and 
to  compel  him  to  go  on  record  and  state  what  he  has  and  to  state  it  in 
black  and  white.  So  far  as  the  publicity  portion  of  this  proposed  measure 
is  concerned  it  rather  underreaches  than  overreaches.  I  believe  we  ought 
to  go  on  record  in  favor  of  some  publicity  measure,  or  some  statement 
of  the  Congress  in  favor  of  publicity.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  it  would 
be  a  mistake  for  this  Congress,  with  its  intelligent  membership  and 
delegates,  to  fail  to  express  itself  in  some  way  in  favor  of  a  publicity 
measure  and  along  lines  that  make  it  easy  for  an  honest  man  to  do 
business,  and  almost  impossible  or  really  impossible  for  a  fakir,  or  for 
a  fake  promoter,  one  who  uses  glittering  generalities,  to  take  advantage 
of  the  American  people.  The  greatest  enemy  that  the  mining  business  has, 
the  greatest  enemy  that  the  investor  has,  the  greatest  enemy 
that  the  prospector  has,  is  the  fake  promoter.  And  I  think 
this  American  Mining  Congress  ought  to  go  on  record  in  some  way,  either 
extending  this  committee  or  appointing  a  new  one,  or  the  same  com- 
mittee (for  they  have  done  good  work)  for  it  is  a  step  in  the  right 
direction.  This  committee  has  done  good  work  and  we  appreciate  it.  It 
is  the  best  measure  we  can  get  and  they  ought  to  be  continued  for  another 
year.  The  records  ought  to  show  that  the  Congress  is  opposed  to  any- 
thing that  makes  fake  or  fraud  promotion  easy  and  in  favor  of  everything 
that  makes  it  hard  or  impossible.  It  ought  to  be  made  impossible. 

MR.  CANTWELL,  OF  MISSOURI:  It  appears  that  this  document 
submitted  by  the  committee  of  five  is  divisible  into  two  parts  and  it  has 
never  been  read  to  the  Congress.  I  take  it  from  the  discussion  evidently 
very  few  of  even  those  who  are  discussing  it,  have  read  it.  This  docu- 
ment contains  Bl/2  pages  which  is  simply  the  report  of  the  committee. 
Then  it  contains  a  very  short  resolution,  three  or  four  questions  in  one 
column,  which  evidently  contains  nearly  all  the  suggestions  that  have 
been  made  here,  and  I  am  going  to  take  the  liberty,  if  the  Congress  will 
permit  me,  to  read  that  column. 

MR.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  I  would  like  to  ask,  just  as  soon 
as  the  discussion  on  the  question  of  place  for  holding  next  session  has 
been  finished  and  the  convention  has  disposed  of  that  proposition,  that 
a  re-hearing  of  this  motion  be  taken  up. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  After  the  special  order.  If  there  is  no 
objection,  it  will  be  so  ordered. 

We  will  now  adjourn  until  1:30  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

FRIDAY,   NOVEMBER,  15,.   1907. 

Afternoon   Session. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:      The  Congress  will  come  to  order. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  Mr.  President,  your  Committee 
on  Resolutions  refers  back  this  resolution,  which  I  ask  the  Secretary  to 
read. 

Secretary  read  the  resolution  as  follows: 

Substitute  for  Resolution   No.  4,  introduced   by  H.  S.  Joseph  of  Utah. 
To  The  American  Mining  Congress: 

Gentlemen: — Your  Committee  on  Resolutions,  to  which  was  referred 
resolution  No.  4,  introduced  by  H.  S.  Joseph,  having  had  same  under  con- 


110  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

sideration,  do  respectfully  recommend  that  the  subject  matter  of  said 
resolution  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Directors  and  in  the  event  of  the 
failure  of  this  winter's  session  of  the  National  Congress  to  establish  a 
Bureau  of  Mining,  that  the  Board  of  Directors  be  and  are  hereby  empowered 
and  instructed  to  carry  out  the  subject  matter  of  said  resolution. 

Upon  motion  duly  seconded  it  was  ordered  that  the  recommendation 
of  the  Committee  be  adopted. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  We  wil1  now  Pr<>ceed  with  the  special 
order.  Delegates  and  members  will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  express 
their  desires  as  to  place  of  holding  the  session  for  1908.  The  Secretary 
will  call  the  roll  of  states  alphabetically,  and  any  state  desiring  to  re- 
spond as  the  name  is  called  will  have  the  privilege  of  doing  so. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  Mr.  President,  we  would  like  Arizona 
passed  for  the  present. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     If  there  is  no  objection,  it  is  so  ordered. 

The  Secretary  then  proceeded  to  call  the  roll  of  states. 

Edwin  L.  Bride,  of  Nevada,  nominated  Reno,  Nevada. 

Frank  E.  Wire,  of  Illinois,  nominated  Chicago,  Illinois. 

T.  M.  Howell,  of  Colorado,  made  a  motion  that  the  matter  be  left  to 
the  determination  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  Motion  overruled  for  the 
time  being. 

H.  S.  Joseph,  of  Utah,  nominated  Douglas,  Arizona. 

MT.  S.  S.  Badger,  of  Arizona,  seconded  the  nomination  of  Douglas. 

Mr.  John  Y.  Bassell,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  nominated  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Mr.  John  J.  Lentz,  of  Ohio,  seconded  the  nomination  of  Columbus.  • 

Mr.  Wire,  of  Illinois,  then  withdrew  the  nomination  of  Chicago  in 
favor  of  Columbus. 

MR.  HOWELL,  OF  COLORADO:  Do  I  understand  the  chair  ruled 
my  motion  out  of  order? 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  I  have  not  ruled  at  all.  What  is  your 
motion  ? 

MR.  HOWELL,  OF  COLORADO:  My  motion  was  that  the  matter 
be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Directors.  I  renew  that  motion,  that  the 
whole  matter  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Directors  for  consideration. 

A  MEMBER:     I  second  the  motion. 

A  MEMBER:  I  move  to  amend  that  motion  by  moving  that  we  pro- 
ceed with  a  direct  vote  of  the  house. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS :  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that 
the  motion  made  and  stated  a  while  ago  and  which  was  temporarily  sus- 
pended, be  amended,  and  that  we  now  proceed  to  a  direct  vote  upon  the 
question  as  to  the  location  of  the  next  session  of  the  Congress. 

M'R.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  arise  to  a  point  of  order.  My  point  of 
order  is  that  the  amendment  is  not  germane  to  the  point  in  issue. 

MR.  WIRE,  OF  ILLINOIS :  I  make  a  motion  to  lay  the  gentleman's 
motion  on  the  table. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     The  point  of  order  is  well  taken. 

MR.  WIRE,  OF  ILLINOIS:  Did  you  make  any  ruling  on  my  motion? 
I  moved  that  the  motion  of  the  gentleman  from  Colorado  be  laid  on  the 
table. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  It  has. been  moved  and  seconded  that  the 
motion  of  the  gentleman  from  Colorado  be  laid  on  the  table. 

The  ayes  seem  to  have  it.     It  is  so  ordered. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  We  have  a  telegraphic  communica- 
tion and  two  or  three  letters  extending  invitations.  Inasmuch  as  the 
cities  named  by  the  letters  have  been  placed  in  nomination,  it  may  not 
be  necessary  to  read  them.  But  it  would  seem  fair  to  hear  the  telegram 
from  Los  Angeles,  which  I  will  read: 

Los  Angeles,  Calv  Nov.  12-13. 

Jas.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Secretary  American  Mining  Congress,  Joplin,  Mo.: 
We  extend  greetings.     Our  representative  bearing  credentials  relat- 
ing to  1908  convention  is  sick  and  can  not  attend.     Los  Angeles  wants 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  111 

1908  convention  and  Chamber  of  Mines  guarantees  to  take  care  of  cus- 
tomary expenses  in  the  event  Congress  convenes  here  in  1908.  Have 
arranged  special  programme  entertainment  for  a  gala  miners'  week. 
Please  notify  us  if  Delegate  C.-  M.  Shannon,  A.  D.  Myers,  L.  V.  Root  or 
Wm.  Gross  present.  Answer.  Collect. 

LOS   ANGELES    CHAMBER   OF    MINES, 

Per  G.  W.  ARNDT,  Sec'y. 

MR.  VINCENT:     I  recommend  that  the  telegram  be  placed  on  file. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:     If  there  is  no  objection,  it  is  so  ordered. 

How  do  you  want  to  vote  on  this  question?  In  the  order  of  nom- 
ination? 

A  M'EMBER:  I  move  you  that  we  proceed  to  vote  on  the  question 
of  place  of  holding  next  Congress  by  calling  the  names  in  the  order  of 
nomination. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  question  now  arises  on  the  invita- 
tion of  Arizona.  Those  that  are  in  favor  of  going  to  Arizona  for  1908 
may  say  aye,  and  those  opposed  say  no. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  Mr.  Chairman,  I  think  that  we  should 
not  have  a  viva  voce  vote.  I  think  we  should  have  a  standing  vote.  No 
man  need  be  ashamed  to  show  his  colors.  We  are  willing  to  stand  on 
the  record. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection  we  will  call  the 
vote  by  standing.  We  will  vote  until  one  point  gets  a  majority,  all  candi- 
dates remaining  in.  It  is  a  standing  vote  and  the  place  that  wins  must 
have  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  While  the  Secretary  is  preparing 
to  call  the  roll,  nlay  I  report  some  resolutions.  My  committee  recom- 
mends a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Buckley  for  the  services  rendered  in  the 
preparation  of  our  program,  etc.,  which  the  Secretary  will  read: 

Resolved,  That  the  success  of  the  Tenth  Annual  Session  of  the  Amer- 
ican Mining  Congress  has  been  achieved  largely  through  the  efforts  of 
Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley,  the  Chairman  of  the  Programme  Committee. 

Dr.  Buckley  has  labored  unceasingly  for  several  months  in  preparing 
the  splendid  programme  which  has  been  presented  to  the  Congress.  The 
papers  presented  and  the  discussion  thereof  will  be  of  the  most  lasting 
benefit  to  not  only  those  in  attendance  at  this  session,  but  to  all  those 
interested  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  mining  industry;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be  extended  to  Dr.  E.  R.  Buckley, 
as  an  acknowledgment  of  the  appreciation  of  the  members  and  delegates 
of  the  Congress  for  the  work  he  has  so  faithfully  performed. 

A  motion  was  made  that  the  resolution  be  adopted,  which  being  duly 
seconded  and  put,  was  unanimously  carried. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  Your  Committee  on  Resolutions 
recommends  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  extended  to  the  Smelter  Rates  and 
Freight  Bill  Committees,  which  I  will  ask  the  Secretary  to  read. 

Secretary  then  read  the  resolution,  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  a  special  vote  of  thanks  be  extended  to  the  members 
of  the  "Smelter  Methods"  and  "Fraud  Bill"  Committees.  These  com- 
mittees have  spent  not  only  their  time,  but  their  money,  in  obtaining 
information  that  will  be  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  their  fellows  engaged 
in  every  branch  of  the  mining  industry;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Mining  Congress  hereby  records  its 
hearty  appreciation  of  the  work  so  wisely  and  generously  performed  by 
the  members  of  the  above  named  committees. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  resolution  be  adopted,  which 
motion  was  duly  put  and  unanimously  carried. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  move  you  that  each  state  be  allowed  to 
vote  the  full  strength  of  its  delegation  present  in  Joplin. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  Is  there  any  objection  to  that.  If  there 
is  no  objection  it  will  be  so  ordered. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  make  this  objection:  I  do  not 
think  it  is  fair.  I  think  if  the  men  who  have  been  delegates  and  mem- 


112  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

bers  of  this  delegation  have  thought  so  little  of  this  issue  that  they 
have  absented  themselves,  they  have  no  right  to  a  voice  in  the  determina- 
tion of  that  matter.  It  is  for  those  who  are  here  to  determine  the  place 
of  next  meeeting,  and  as  I  am  informed, -that  has  been  your  ruling  and 
usage  heretofore. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  I  desire  to  state  that  I  know  of  twenty 
delegates  who  aie  partaking  of  the  hospitality  of  the  people  of  Joplin: 
They  ought  not  to  be  cut  out.  They  are  represented  on  the  floor  by  other 
delegates.  They  should  express  their  opinion. 

COL.  DORSEY,  OF  NEBRASKA:  Under  our  by-laws  no  man  has  a 
right  to  give  his  proxy  to  another  in  this  Congress. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  If  that  is  so,  I  have  nothing  to  say.  I 
do  know  this  was  the  order  of  business  for  ten  o'clock  this  morning. 
These  men  were  here  then,  but  accepted  the  hospitality  of  some  of  the 
people  of  Joplin  this  afternoon,  or  they  would  be  here  to  vote. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  It  has  always  been  the  rule  that  only 
those  present  can  vote  here.  If  you  wish  to  make  an  exception  it  is 
your  privilege  to  do  so. 

MR.  HOWELL,  OF  COLORADO:  A  resolution  was  passed  by  our 
delegation  unanimously  that  the  membership  present  at  this  convention 
vote  the  absentees.  That  was  our  organization  and  I  think  there  should 
be  a  ruling  on  it  whether  we  are  allowed  to  do  it  that  way. 

MR.  GALIGER,  OF  MONTANA:  I  don't  see  how  you  can  get  around 
your  by-laws  on  this  proposition.  It  states  positively  that  no  vote  shall 
be  cast  by  proxy  and  that  no  state  shall  be  permitted  to  cas  more  votes 
than  the  number  of  members  from  each  state  which  are  present  at  the 
annual  meeting. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  The  interpretation  of  that  is  those  dele- 
gates who  come  to  the  annual  session  are  allowed  to  vote.  It  does  not 
refer  to  the  sitting — it  refers  to  the  convention — present  at  the  conven- 
tion. 

MR.  GALIGER,  OF  MONTANA:     Article  IX,  section  1,  provides: 

"The  directors  shall  be  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  mem- 
bers. In  the  election  of  the  directors  each  state  or  territory  shall  be 
entitled  to  cast  ten  votes  and  one  additional  vote  for  each  fifty  members 
in  good  standing,  residing  within  such  state  or  territory;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  no  votes  shall  be  cast  by  proxy  and  that  no  state  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  cast  more  votes  than  the  number  of  members  from  such  state 
present  at  such  annual  session." 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  That  clause  does  not  fit  the  case.  This  is 
the  selection  of  the  place  for  the  next  convention.  That  clause  has  ref- 
erence to  the  election  of  directors. 

MR.  GALIGER,  OF  MONTANA:  I  take  it  that  it  refers  to  all  elec- 
tions, as  much  so  for  the  election  of  a  point  of  meeting,  because  of  the 
fact  that  there  is  no  other  clause  in  these  by-laws  to  govern  the  election 
of  officers. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  The  by-law  has  no  reference  to  this 
character  of  vote.  It  relates  to  an  election  of  directors,  but  as  I  stated 
a  while  ago,  the  custom  has  been  to  only  allow  those  to  vote  who  are 
present,  on  questions  of  this  character,  but  I  stated  to  you  that  under 
that  ruling,  you  would  have  a  right  to  change  it  if  you  saw  fit.  I  have 
no  right  to  change  it. 

A  MEMBER:  I  move  that  this  convention  proceed  to  vote,  allowing 
only  those  to  vote  who  are  actually  present. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  carried. 

The  Secretary  then  called  the  roll  of  places  nominated,  which  re- 
sulted as  follows: 

Douglas,  Arizona,  29  votes. 

Los  Angeles,  California,  no  votes. 

Reno,  Nevada,  6  votes. 

Columbus,  Ohio.  63  votes. 

MR.  JOSEPH,  OF  UTAH:  On  behalf  of  Douglas,  I  desire  to  with- 
draw Douglas,  Arizona,  and  cast  our  vote  with  Columbus. 


AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS  113 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  move  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this 
Congress  that  Columbus,  Ohio,  be  unanimously  nominated  as  the  place 
for  the  holding  of  the  next  session  of  this  Congress. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  unanimously  carried. 

MR.  DOWNEY,  OF  COLORADO:  I  move  that  the  report  of  the 
committee  of  five  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  devising  methods  of  pre- 
venting fraudulent  mining  schemes  be  received  and  printed.  That  the 
recommendations  of  the  committee  be  adopted,  and  that  the  resolutions 
under  clause  4  be  also  adopted,  and  that  a  standing  committee  of  five,  as 
recommended  by  clause  5,  be  appointed. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  If  there  is  no  objection  it  will  be  so 
ordered. 

MAJ.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  Mr.  Dorsey  and  Gentlemen:  The 
resolution  I  presented  to  the  Resolutions  Committee  was  reported  back 
to  the  Resolution  Committee  and  not  acted  upon.  I  wish  to  read  the 
resolution  before  this  body.  It  is  short,  and  I  believe  inasmuch  as  we 
ought  to  put  ourselves  squarely  before  the  world,  I  am  going  to  ask  that 
you  pass  my  resolution,  which  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  The  promiscuous  exploitation  of  illegitimate  and  fraudulent 
mining  schemes  throughout  the  United  States,  Canada  and  Europe,  espe- 
cially during  the  past  year,  by  unscrupulous  so-called  promoters  has 
resulted  in  the  wholesale  defrauding  of  the  general  public  and  especially 
the  small  "investor;  and, 

Whereas,  The  above  unlawful  acts  still  obtained  and  continued  un- 
abated; and, 

Whereas,  No  other  condition  has  so  tended  to  discredit  the  fair 
name  of  the  American  mining  industry  throughout  the  world;  and, 

Whereas,  The  public  press  has  been  the  chief  instrument  used  by 
the  said  dishonest  promoters  in  their  predatory  efforts;  now,  therefore, 
be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  American  Mining  Congress  in  annual  convention 
assembled,  that  the  attention  of  the  Department  of  Justice  of  the  United 
States  and  the  various  attorney  generals  of  several  states  of  the  Union 
be  favorably  called  to  these  flagrant  violations  of  the  laws  of  the  states 
and  the  United  States  and  that  immediate  action  be  taken  under  the  law 
to  prevent  further  swindling  operations  as  herein  outlined;  that  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  body  that  such  unlawful  acts  are  in  fact  violations  of  the 
statutes  to  prevent  "obtaining  money  by  false  pretense"  and "  "general 
swindling,"  and  that  the  public  press  of  the  country  are  herewith  earn- 
estly urged  to  assist  this  body  by  refusing  further  to  lend  its  aid  to  this 
particular  kind  of  wholesale  and  organized  robbery. 

That  those  periodicals  and  newspapers  who  have  aided  this  body 
in  its  efforts  to  right  this  condition  be  greatly  commended,  and  that 
the  members  of  this  body  and  all  other  good  citizens  support  these  pub- 
lications in  every  way  possible  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  aim  set 
forth  in  this  resolution. 

COL.  DORSEY,  OF  NEBRASKA:  This  asks  for  the  appointment 
of  no  committee? 

MAJ.  VINCENT,  OF  MISSOURI:  I  simply  ask  for  its  adoption,  so 
that  it  can  be  scattered  broadcast  through  the  country  as  the  sentiment 
of  this  Congress.  I  move  the  adoption  of  the  resolution. 

Which  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  carried. 

MR.  H.  H.  STOEK,  OF  PENNSYLVANIA:  I  beg  to  submit  the  fol- 
lowing report: 

Report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  advisability  of 
a  commission  appointed  from  the  several  coal  mining  states  and-  the 
United  States  at  large  to  investigate  the  conditions  effecting  safety  in 
coal  mining,  with  a  view  toward  the  formation  and  enforcement  of  ade: 
quate  laws  favoring  this  branch  of  the  mining  industry. 

Your  committee  reports  that  the  Chairman  and  one  member  of  the 
committee  appointed  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Mining  Congress,  found 
it  impossible  to  serve.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to  appoint  other  mem- 
bers and  a  new  Chairman.  This  was  not  done,  however,  until  shortly 


114  OFFICIAL    PROCEEDINGS 

before  the  meeting  of  the  Congress,  and  it  was  therefore  impossible  for 
this  new  committee  to  assemble  before  coming  to  Joplin.  Only  two  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  are  in  attendance  at  the  Congress,  although  two 
others  fully  expected  to  attend,  but  were  detained  at  a  late  date. 

Your  committee  does  not  consider  it  feasible  at  present  to  have  a 
commission  appointed  from  the  several  coal  mining  states,  and  believes 
that  such  a  commission  should  be  national  in  character,  and  that  such 
an  investigation  should  preferably  be  carried  on  by  a  Federal  Bureau 
of  Mines,  such  as  the  Mining  Congress  is  now  working  to  have  estab- 
lished. In  view  of  the  probability  that  such  a  Bureau  will  be  established 
in  the  near  future,  your  committee  suggests  that  the  same,  or  a  similar, 
committee  be  appointed  and  authorized  to  consider  this  matter  further 
and  to  gather  statistics  upon  the  subject,  to  be  reported  to  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Mining  Congress. 

(Signed)     H.  FOSTER  BAIN,   Chairman. 
H.   H.  STOEK,  Secretary. 

COL.  DORSET,  OF  NEBRASKA:  Are  the  members  of  the  committee 
able  to  give  their  services? 

MR.  STOEK:  The  new  members  of  the  committee  were  only  ap- 
pointed a  short  time  ago  and  we  had  no  meeting  until  we  came  to  Joplin. 
Two  members  not  here  were  unavoidably  detained. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH :  The  "members  of  this  committee  have 
all  consented  to  serve.  I  move  that  the  report  of  the  committee  be  re- 
ceived, that  the  committee  be  continued  for  another  year,  and  that  the 
President  be  authorized  to  add  to  the  committee  two  additional  members. 

PRESIDENT  RICHARDS:  There  being  no  objection  it  will  be  so 
ordered. 

SECRETARY  CALLBREATH:  I  have  a  paper  submitted  by  Dr. 
James  Douglas,  entitled  "The  remedy  for  the  Law  of  the  Apex,"  which 
I  will  read,  in  response  to  particular  request  that  it  shall  be  presented 
to  the  convention: 

Dr.  Douglas'  paper  will  .be  found  on  page  122  of  this  report. 

COL.  DORSEY,  OF  NEBRASKA:  There  is  one  thing  I  wish  to  speak 
of,  and  I  hope  the  members  will  publish  this.  We  have  had  quite  a 
number  of  telegrams  and  letters  asking  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
to  pass  a  bill  not  requiring  the  work  of  1907  to  be  done  on  mineral  loca- 
tions. That  work  in  most  instances  has  already  been  done  up  to  this 
time,  and  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  such  a  bill  to  pass  through 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  during  the  month  of  December,  as  it 
is  necessary  it  should  be  passed  during  that  month  to  become  operative, 
for  the  reason  that  if  the  work  is  not  done  by  December  31st  the  claims 
are  re-opened  and  open  for  re-location.  We  do  not  refuse  to  take  up  that 
matter  and  consider  it,  but  it  is  absolutely  useless  to  do  so,  for  the 
reasons  I  have  given.  And  so  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  did  not 
consider  it. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered  to 
President  Richards  for  his  able  services  in  behalf  of  the  American  Mining 
Congress.  A  rising  vote  was  called  for,  and  the  motion  was  carried 
unanimously. 

It  was  also  moved  and  seconded  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered 
to  Secretary  Callbreath  for  his  able  services.  A  rising  vote  was  also 
called  for,  and  the  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered  to  the 
members  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  for  their  faithful  and  able 
services  rendered  by  that  committee.  Which  motion  being  duly  put  was 
unanimously  carried. 

MR.  DORSEY,  OF  NEBRASKA:  I  move  that  this  Congress  do  now 
adjourn  sine  die. 

The  motion  being  duly  seconded,  was  put  and  unanimously  carried, 


The  Importance  of  the  Mining  Industry  to  the  Commercial  and  Industrial 

Life  of  a  Nation 


BY   H.    J.    CANT  WELL,   ST.    LOUIS,    MISSOURI. 

It  seems  like  painting  the  lily  and  gilding  refined  gold 
to  attempt  to  demonstrate  before  an  assembly  of  intelligent 
people  in  America  the  importance  of  the  mining  industry 
to  the  commercial  and  industrial  life  of  a  nation,  for  as  we 
understand  the  words  "industrial  and  commercial  life,"  and 
the  Word  "nation,"  there  could  be  neither  without  the  min- 
ing industry. 

The  history  of  civilization  is  the  history  of  the  progress 
of  mining.  When  the  first  cave  dweller  ceased  to  tear  the 
raw  flesh  from  the  bones  of  the  animals  which  he  had  stran- 
gled with  his  hairy  claws,  or  killed  with  his  stone  ax,  he 
became  a  miner,  and  from  that  day  until  now,  when  so 
many  of  the  forces  of  nature  have  been  subjugated  by  man, 
there  is  not  an  hour  of  our  existence  on  this  planet  when  we 
should  not  be  reminded  of  the  contribution  which  the  miner 
has  made  to  the  comfort  of  our  existence. 

There  is  no  modern  industry  which  does  not  have  as  the 
base  of  its  existence,  the  products  taken  from  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  earth.  Every  art  and  every  science  owes  its 
debt  to  the  miner. 

Were  it  not  for  the  mining  industry,  the  art  of  naviga- 
tion would  be  confined  to  the  paddling  of  the  birch  bark 
canoe,  or  the  steering  of  the  galley  within  sight  of  continen- 
tal shores,  instead  of  the  accurate  direction,  from  continent 
to  continent  and  from  pole  to  pole,  of  floating  cities  of  the 
seas — like  the  Lusitania.  The  clumsy  wooden  cart,  oxen- 
dragged  through  knee-deep  mire,  would  be  the  means  of 
land  transportation  instead  of  the  locomotive  whirling  its 
train  of  palace  cars  or  the  automobile  realizing  the  poetry 
of  motion  on  the  Champs  Elysee  or  the  Jasper  county  roads. 
The  beacon  fire  upon  the  hill  would  be  the  means  of  com- 
municating intelligence  instead  of  the  telephone,  the  tele- 
graph and  the  wireless,  which  by  their  wonders  give  to  mor- 
tals the  qualities  heretofore  deemed  possible  to  be  possessed 
only  by  the  immortals.  Winged  mercury!  The  dream  of 
the  poetic  pagans,  realized  in  common,  prosaic,  everyday 
life;  for  the  individual  vibrations  of  your  thought,  electric- 
winged,  may  now  be  felt  to  the  remotest  corner  of  the  globe. 

Instead  of  the  palaces  of  modeiTn  architecture  in  which 
the  humlest  member  of  society  may  dwell,  man  would 


116  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

still  be  living  in  the  wigwam  of  the  Indian  or  the  palm-leaf 
hut  of  the  South  Sea  Islander.  Instead  of  the  electrict  light, 
illuminating  the  darkness  of  the  witching  hour  with  the 
brilliant  rays  of  mid-day,  we  should  have  the  pine  torch  and 
the  tallow    dip.    Agriculture   would   be   confined   to    the 
wooden  flail  and  a  plow  of  forked  stick  instead  of  the  four- 
furrowed  cultivator,  the  thresher  and  the  mower.    The  pic- 
ture of  the  art  of  milling  would  be  of  a  haggard  crone,  grind- 
ing between  two  smooth  stones  the  kernels  of  corn  instead 
of  a  colossal  giant  with  a  thousand  deft  fingers — the  mod- 
ern mill.    The  countless  instruments  by  which  the  masters 
of  music  render  to  human  ears  their  divine  symphonies 
would  not  be  possible,  and  man's  only  attempt  at  harmony 
would  be  such  as  he  could  derive  from  the  rude  viol,  the 
voudoo  drum  or  the  pith  extracted  pipe.     None  of  the  tri- 
umphs of  modern  surgery  would  be  possible  without  the 
instruments  made  from  the  fruit  of  the  toil  of  the  miner. 
The  art  of  the  painter  progressed  no  farther  than  the  dye- 
ing of  his  own  face,  until  the  miner  gave  him  the  materials 
by  which  he  might  reproduce  upon  a  canvas  all  the  glowing 
colors  of  the  rainbow. 

Commerce,  other  than  the  most  primitive  barter,  would 
not  be  possible,  for,  imperfect  as  it  may  seem  today,  when 
the  exchange  of  commodities  of  the  world  is  made  upon  a 
basis  of  relative  values,  by  bookkeeping,  yet  man  has  only 
reached  this  stage  as  an  evolution  from,  by  and  with  a  me- 
tallic currency  which  has  been  produced  by  the  miner.  In 
fact,  there  is  no  art,  however  seemingly  far  it  be  re- 
moved from  the  toil  and  grime  of  the  mine,  but  depends 
absolutely  upon  contributions  gotten  by  the  rugged  delvers 
in  the  subterranean  depths. 

A  great  philosopher  has  said  that  there  is  nothing 
more  unreliable  than  statistics  except  the  deductions  often 
sought  to  be  drawn  from  statistics.  I  shall  not  attempt  to 
burden  your  minds  with  the  exact  figures  of  the  values  of 
the  mining  products  of  the  world,  and  shall  only  deal  in 
round  millions  in  attempting  to  give  a  relative  idea  of  the 
value  of  the  mining  products  of  the  United  States,  as  com- 
pared with  other  products  of  this  most  productive  age. 

The  production  of  coal  in  the  United  States  for  the  last 
year  was  $567,000,000.  That  coal  made  possible  all  the  man- 
ufactures of  the  United  States. 

The  production  of  iron,  in  ore  and  pig,  amounted  to  $560,- 
000,000,  and  from  that  iron  was  produced  all  the  machines 
which  went  into  every  industry  other  than  mining. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  MINERAL  INDUSTRY        117 

The  production  of  zinc  ore  and  metal  amounted  to  $45,- 
000,000,  making  possible  all  the  electrical  manufactures  and 
supplying  the  inside  paints  of  the  world. 

The  production  of  lead  amounted  to  $39,000,000,  mak- 
ing possible  all  of  the  underground  cables,  furnishing  the 
outside  paints  in  the  United  States  and  the  conduits  by 
which  the  modern  systems  of  plumbing  are  possible,  thus 
giving  civilized  man  an  abundance  of  pure  water,  one  of  the 
greatest  gifts  of  God  to  man.  In  the  ancient  days,  and  even 
in  the  early  history  of  our  country,  water,  the  finding  of  the 
well,  was  the  first  care  of  the  settler.  Tribes  went  to  war 
to  occupy  particular  locations  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
necessary  of  daily  life,  and  yet,  by  the  production  of  lead, 
and  in  the  uses  of  it  for  carrying  and  distribution  water,  the 
beggar  upon  the  streets  is  a  greater  master  of  this  gift  than 
the  former  monarch  upon  the  throne. 

The  production  of  copper  in  the  United  States 
amounted  to  $180,000,000,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  con- 
sumed in  electrical  devices  for  the  transmission  of  power, 
light,  and  heat. 

The  production  of  gold  in  the  United.  States  amounted 
to  $96,000,000,  furnishing  the  basis  of  value  of  debts  at  least, 
and  preventing  the  enslavement  of  a  generation  of  debtors 
to  the  foreign  creditor. 

The  production  of  silver  in  the  United  States  amounted 
to  $37,000,000. 

The  production  of  petroleum  amounted  to  $80,000,000, 
the  use  of  which  has  multiplied  the  capacity  of  man  in  every 
field. 

The  production  of  phosphate  rock,  the  use  of  which  has 
revolutionized  a'griculture,  amounted  to  $12,000,000. 

The  production  of  salt,  that  necessary  of  man  and 
tyeast,  amounted  to  $6,600,000. 

The  total  production  .  including  secondary  minerals 
and  chemicals,  amounted  to  a  magnificent  total  of  $1,868,- 
000,000,  excluding  all  excavation  of  brick,  fire-clay,  tiling 
rnd  all  quarry  products.  This  production  being  twice  as 
much  as  in  1900. 

Think  of  it!  These  statistics  show  a  production  from 
beneath  the  surface  of  one  billion  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  millions  of  dollars.  One's  brain  reels  from  a  glimpse 
of  the  immensity. 

It  is  barely  possible  that  in  the  table  of  these  statistics 
there  has  been  some  duplication,  as  when  the  value  of  white 
lead  is  included  as  well  as  the  value  of  pig  lead,  from  which 
it  is  made;  but  excluding  all  possiblities  of  duplication,  it 
yet  remains  absolutely  certain  that  the  value,  at  the  mine 


118  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

pit,  or  furnace,  of  the  products  of  the  mines  in  the  United 
States  during  the  year  1906  easily  exceeded  11,700,000,000, 
or  a  value  of  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  for  every  male 
adult  in  the  United  States,  or,  assuming  that  there  are  ap- 
proximately six  hundred  thousand  persons  engaged  in  the 
mining  industry  proper,  a  production  per  capita  of  men 
employed  in  the  United  States  in  the  mining  industry  of 
more  than  |2,800.00  annually. 

Consider  how  the  development  of  the  Western  Conti- 
nent has  been  brought  about.  Remember  that  the  first  in- 
centive to  the  early  explorations  of  the  Spaniards,  and  to  the 
later  settlements  of  uhe  Frencl?  in  this  magnificent  valley, 
was  the  search  for  minerals.  Fresh  in  the  memory  of  many 
men  now  living,  is  the  development  of  the  iron  industry  in 
Alabama  and  Tennessee,  and  the  transformation  thereby 
wrought.  Consider  western  Pennsylvania  before  the  oil, 
gas,  coal  and  iron  were  developed,  and  view  it  today,  the 
heart  of  the  manufacturing  district  of  the  world. 

Picture  the  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  before  the  cop- 
per and  the  iron  were  developed,  and  know  of  the  wondrous 
changes  in  New  York  and  Chicago  by  the  making  of  a  thous- 
and millionaires  from  the  deposits  of  the  Mesabi  range. 
Contemplate  the  first  development  of  southern  Missouri, 
and  remember  that  the  first  railroad  in  that  section 
was  built  to  reach  the  famous  Iron  mountain!  See  what 
Joplin  and  the  adjacent  districts  have  become  under  the 
influence  of  the  zinc  mining  industry. 

Alaska  sat,  since  the  glacial  period,  silent,  grim  and 
impenetrable,  bound  by  the  icy  fetters  of  the  polar  seas,  her 
barren  peaks  swept  by  the  cruel  blast  of  the  north  wind, 
until  the  miner's  fiery  ardor  melted  the  icy  chains  and  re- 
leased the  golden  flood.  Alaska,  for  the  purchase  of  which 
our  government  was  criticised  as  being  prodigal  in  paying 
the  sum  of  seven  millions  of  dollars  forty  years  ago,  today 
producing  annually  a  total  of  more  than  f  21,000,000  in  gold 
and  in  other  mine  products  and  is  producing  of  forest,  fish- 
ery and  farm,  three  times  as  much  more. 

Africa,  which  since  the  loss  of  King  Solomon's  mines, 
was  abandoned  to  the  barbarian  and  the  beast  by  the  gen- 
ius of  the  miners,  Rhodes  and  Hammond,  and  the  touch  of 
their  magic  wands  on  the  golden  reefs,  today  is  yielding  mil- 
lions of  wealth  of  every  conceivable  form  for  the  uses  of 
man. 

California,  which  lay  across  the  barren  waste  of  the 
great  American  Desert,  over  which  the  slow  steps  of  the 
Forty-niner  wearily  dragged — under  the  lure  of  the  mine, 


IMPORTANCE   OF   THE   MINERAL   INDUSTRY  119 

and  by  reason  of  the  mining  industry,  has  now  become 
the  most  fertile  spot  on  God's  footstool.  In  truth,  war  and 
the  lure  of  the  mine,  by  which  the  best  and  the  bravest  of 
every  generation  have  been  drawn  from  the  place  of  their 
birth,  and  their  capacities  multiplied  many  fold  by  a  change 
of  environment,  have  been  the  two  incentives  to  action,  the 
main  factors  of  progress,  the  cause  of  the  development  of 
individuality,  the  means  of  diffusing  intelligence,  and  the 
consequent  attainment  of  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

In  the  front  ranks  of  the  adventurers  of  the  world  have 
been  the  miners,  and  though  of  the  advance  guard  too  often 
may  it  be  said,  "their  bones  unburied  on  the  naked  shore, 
devouring  dogs  and  hungry  vultures  tore,7'  yet  ceaselessly 
the  column  has  passed  on,  and  smiling  peace  and  plenty 
have  followed  in  their  train. 

There  is  no  part  of  this  continent,  at  least,  where  the 
miner  has  not  been  the  pioneer. 

South  America,  most  fertile  in  resources  of  all  the  spots 
of  the  earth,  will  never  be  redeemed  from  the  jungle  until 
the  adventurous  miner  does  the  pioneer  work.  And  rough 
and  uncouth  as  these  soldiers  of  the  pick  and  drill  are,  yet 
'tis  the  miner  who  has  always  planted  the  foundations  of 
law  and  order. 

The  only  mention  of  a  land  of  perfect  abundance  in  the 
Bible  is  of  a  land  of  mines  of  useful  metals.  The  book  of 
Deuteronomy  speaks  of  a  promised  land  "where  without  any 
want  thou  shalt  eat  thy  bread  and  shalt  know  abundance 
of  all  things.  Where  the  stones  are  of  iron  and  out  of  its 
hills  are  digged  mines  of  brass." 

Without  the  product  of  the  mines,  the  materials  of  lit- 
erature would  be  the  quill  pen  and  papyrus  sheet,  instead  of 
the  printing  press  and  cheap  paper,  diffusing  intelligence 
over  the  entire  world  and  placing  education  within  the 
reach  of  all;  making  the  researches  of  the  sages  of  all  the 
heritage  of  all  men.  This  democracy  of  education,  this 
common  diffusion  of  intelligence,  is  possible  only 
through  the  modern  printing  press,  and  the  printing  press 
is  made  from  the  products  of  the  mine.  While  the  mines 
have  created  the  means  by  which  this  literature  is  popular- 
ized, and  by  which  literary  men  may  be  sustained,  yet  the 
mining  industry  has  received  few  tributes  from  Knights 
of  the  Quill.  Of  the  dignity  of  agriculture,  literature  is  full ; 
of  the  glory  of  war,  minstrels  and  poets  have  sung  in  every 
age;  but  of  the  dignity,  glory  and  heroism  of  those  who  be- 
neath the  surface  of  the  earth  have  toiled  with  more  won- 
drous results  than  the  genii  of  Aladdin's  Lamp,  literature, 
song  and  story  have  been  absolutely  silent. 


120  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

The  Book  of  Job  makes  but  one  reference  to  a  mine- 
but  one  sentence — "There  is  a  path  which  no  fowl  kuoweth 
and  which  the  vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen;  the  lion's  whelps 
have  not  trodden  it,  nor  the  fierce  lion  passed  by  it."  No 
flaming'  gonfalon  floats  there,  and  no  stirring  music  is 
heard.  There  is  none  of  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of 
glorious  war.  But  in  those  dark,  dull  caverns,  which  the 
lion's  whelp  have  not  trod,  and  the  vulture's  eye  hath  not 
seen,  are  performed  more  acts  of  simple  heroism  and  self- 
sacrificing '  endeavor  than  have  ever  been  performed  upon 
the  battlefields  of  the  earth. 

There  have  been  more  hardships  endured  between  the 
White  Pass  of  Alaska  and  the  sweltering  sun  of  the  Equa- 
tor, in  the  miner's  daily  toil,  than  armies  engaged  in  war 
have  ever  suffered. 

Gold,  and  the  mysterious  call  from  the  depths  of  the 
earth  have  been  the  attraction  by  which  all  the  great  ex- 
plorers of  the  earth  have  ventured  forth,  and  in  their  wake, 
and  by  reason  of  their  first  conquest  of  the  wilderness  and 
the  desert,  in  the  search  of  mines,  have  come  all  the  great 
progresses  of  agriculture,  of  transportation,  of  manufac- 
turing, and  of  art. 

These  are  the  direct  influences  of  mining  on  the  indus- 
trial and  commercial  life  of  a  nation.  But  there  is  another 
feature  of  importance  in  mining.  The  indirect  effect  of  min- 
ing success  cannot  be  overestimated.  The  man  who  has 
amassed  a  fortune  in  mining  is  rarely  content  to  be  a  mere 
idle  holder  of  mone}7  thereafter,  and  every  field  of  endeavor 
outside  of  mining  has  felt  the  quickening  effect  of  his  invest 
ment  in  other  fields  of  the  millions  made  in  the  mines. 

.  "The  patient  search  and  vigil  long,"  the  courage  and 
constancy  necessary  for  the  development  of  a  mining  enter- 
prise, becomes  a  permanent  possession  to  the  successful 
miner;  he  carries  these  same  qualifies  into  other  fields  of 
endeavor,  he  re-animates  other  enterprises,  he  inspires  his 
associates,  his  courage  and  enthusiasm  leaven  the  whole 
lump. 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  remarkable  impetus  given 
to  other  enterprises  in  San  Francisco  and  New  York  by 
the  fortunes  made  in  mining,  and  that  the  money  of 
Mackay,  Haggin,  Fair  and  Hearst,  has  caused  untold  ac- 
tivity in  other  fields  on  the  eastern  shores  of  the  continent, 
four  thousand  miles  away  from  where  the  treasure  was 
uncovered. 

Denver  owes  its  commercial  and  industrial  prestige, 
outside  of  mining,  to  the  activities  of  Moffat,  Tabor  and 
others  in  other  fields. 


IMPORTANCE  OP  THE  MINERAL  INDUSTRY 

St.  Louis  was  called  from  her  long  sleep  by  the  fortunes 
made  in  the  famous  Granite  Mountain. 

Pittsburgers  have  become  the  most  fearless  and  persist- 
ent workers  in  manufactures  of  all  kinds,  stimulated  by  the 
money  and  encouraged  by  the  success  of  the  iron,  coal,  gas 
and  oil  miners. 

Boston  was  little  famed  for  its  trade  until  the  copper 
fields  of  Michigan  distributed  its  millions1  there. 

In  this,  more  than  in  any  other  age,  is  the  mining  in- 
dustry the  very  heart  and  soul  of  industry  and  commerce, 
but  looking  back  throughout  the  centuries,  since  the  dawn 
of  industry  and  commerce,  there  is  no  age  in  which  the  min- 
ing industry  has  not  been  paramount. 

"A  cultivated  and  a  populous  race  heaped  with  long 
toil  the  earth  (Yea,  and  mined  beneath  it\  while  yet  the 
Greek  was  hewing  the  Pentelicus  to  forms  of  symmetry,  or 
raising  on  its  rock  the  glittering  Parthenon." 

The  importance  of  the  mining  industry  to  a  nation! 
Your  means  of  defense  would  be  confined  to  the  arrow  or 
the  wooden  javelin,  or  the  club  with  which  the  baboon  kills 
his  prey,  instead  of  the  many  implements  of  war,  made  pos- 
sible by  the  mining  industry,  and  by  which  peace  is  assured 
and  nations  are  preserved!  Tribes  and  confederations  of 
tribes  there  might  be,  but  no  modern  civilized  nation  could 
exist  without  the  mining  industry. 

But  why  multiply  words  upon  the  importance  of  the 
mining  industry  to  the  commercial  and  industrial  life  of  a 
nation?    Without  it  there  would  be  little  industry,  tcss  com 
rnerce,  and  NO  NATION. 

Therefore,  let  the  miner  \valk  erect,  unaffected  by  the 
sneer  of  the  supercilious  or  the  criticism  of  the  ignorant. 
His  craft  is  ancient,  and  his  calling  noble.  Let  him  walk 
erect! 

He  is  the  chosen  son  of  the  Most  High  in  the  industrial 
development  of  this  age  and  of  all  the  ages  yet  to  come. 


A  Remedy  for  the  Law  of  the  Apex 

BY   DR.   JAMES  DOUGLAS,  NEW   YORK  CITY. 

While  there  may  be  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
wisdom  of  amending  the  existing  law  known  as  the 
Law  of  the  Apex,  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  court  decis- 
ions have  settled  so  many  of  its  ambiguous  features,  and 
that  its  provisions  have  been  applied,  and  rights  under  it 
secured  over  so  large  an  area  as  the.  United  Stages,  few 
people  would  be  found  to  defend  the  law  on  its  own  merits. 
Fewer  still,  if  the  law  did  not  stand  on  the  statute  books, 
would  frame  or  vote  for  the  passage  of  such  a  law  today. 
It  was  based  on  false  geological  assumptions,  and  has  re- 
tarded mining  in  many  districts.  Apart  from  its  baneful 
effects  in  this  respect,  it  has  been  the  cause  of  bitter  ill- 
feeling  among  neighbors,  and  created  a  widespread  feeling 
of  hostility  where  there  should  have  been  co-operation,  self- 
help  and  mutual  aid  and  counsel. 

Those  who  so  desire  have  the  remedy  in  their  own 
hands,  for  neighbors  who  do  not  wish  to  avail  themselves 
of  their  rights  under  the  apex  law,  may  contract  between 
themselves  to  apply  to  their  surface  the  common  law  rule, 
and  abolish,  so  far  as  their  adjacent  property  is  concerned, 
their  rights  under  the  law  of  1873.  In  May,  1882,  Mr.  Win. 
E.  Church  of  the  Detroit  Copper  Mining  Company,  whose 
operating  headquarters  were  at  Morenci,  near  Clifton,  Ari- 
zona, made  an  arrangement  with  Messrs.  Freudenthal  and 
Lesinsky,  the  owners  of  the  Longfellow  Copper  Mining  Com- 
pany, and  a  number  of  other  claims  in  the  Clifton  district, 
to  aJbolish  the  apex  law  as  applied  to  their  properties,  and 
to  confine  their  operations  in  depth  within  the  end  and  side 
lines  of  their  respective  claims  carried  down  vertically. 
After  Messrs.  Freudenthal  and  Lesinsky  sold  their  prop- 
erty to  the  Arizona  Copper  Company  the  arrangement  which 
has  worked  so  well  was  confirmed  by  the  Arizona  Copper 
Company,  and  a  similar  contract  was  made  between  that 
corporation  and  the  Detroit  Copper  Mining  Company.  As 
a  result,  during  the  twenty-six  years  that  have  intervened 
between  the  first  contract  and  today,  there  has  been  no 
litigation  in  the  Clifton  district  growing  out  of  the  law  of 
the  apex.  A  number  of  other  companies  have  since  then 
begun  operations  in  the  district.  I  am  not  aware  whether 
or  not  similar  contracts  have  been  made  among  them,  but 
a  spirit  of  friendliness,  instead  of  distrust,  prevades  the 
whole  corporate  mining  community  of  that  district,  which 


A    REMEDY    FOR    THE    LAW    OF    THE   APEX  123 

may  or  may  not  have  been  brought  about  by  the  action  of 
the  two  most  prominent  mining  companies. 

In  the  still  more  productive  Warren  district  of  southern 
Arizona,  whose  center  is  the  town  of  Bisbee,  the  Copper 
Queen  was  for  many  years  the  only  company  working  ac- 
tively, or  producing  much  copper;  but  when  the  Calumet  & 
Arizona  Company  acquired  property  and  became  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  copper  production  of  the  southwest,  the 
same  spirit  possessed  the  companies,  and  the  same  method 
of  avoiding  litigation,  growing  out  of  the  direction  in  which 
ore  bodies  extended,  was  adopted.  In  the  Warren  district 
the  profitable  ore  as  yet  discovered  and  developed  is  con- 
fined to  beds  of  carboniferous  limestone,  whose  thickness  is 
about  400  feet,  and  which  have  a  southerly  dip.  Probably 
under  the  decision  in  the  famous  Eureka-Richmond  case,  the 
Copper  Queen,  which  has  worked  continuously  from  a  mar- 
velous outcrop  opened  up  in  1880  along  the  dip  of  the  ore 
bearing  strata  of  limestone  for  a  distance  of  over  a  mile 
from  it  outcrop  to  a  depth  of  1,200  feet  below  the  surface, 
might  have  fought,  with  a  reasonable  'expectation  of  win- 
ning, for  all  ore  on  the  dip.  But  the  result  of  litigation 
would  have  been  curtailment,  if  not  stoppage,  of  work,  by 
injunction,  paralysis  of  the  whole  district,  rabid  hatred  be- 
tween neighbors,  and  the  transfer  of  profits  (if  under  the 
circumstances  any  happened  to  be  made)  to  the  legal  profes- 
sion instead  of  to  the  shareholders.  And  therefore  the  Cop- 
per Queen  Company,  guided  by  the  success  of  the  experi- 
ment in  the  Clifton  district,  was  quite  willing  to  follow  the 
same  procedure  and  make  side  and  end  line  agreements 
with  the  Calumet  &  Arizona  Mining  Company  and  with 
five  other  prominent  neighboring  mining  companies. 

The  wonderful  development  of  mining  in  the  district 
has  unquestionably  been  brought  about  through  this  lib- 
eral policy,  for  not  only  has  litigation  and  its  consequent 
bitterness  of  feeling  been  eliminated,  but  the  underground 
development  of  the  district  has  progressed  more  rapidly 
than  it  would  have  done  had  not  the  contracts  contained  a 
clause  which  opened  each  other's  mines  to  the  inspection  of 
the  contracting  parties.  The  consequence  has  been  that 
any  discovery  made  by  any  one  of  the  companies,  instead 
of  being  concealed,  is  published  to  the  others,  and  the 
neighbor  is  thus  directed  to  the  point  where  he  should,  with 
most  probability  of  success,  search  for  ore.  This  benefit 
has  been  experienced  to  the  utmost  advantage  in  the  War- 
ren district,  where  the  ore  bodies  appear  to  be  eccentrically 
distributed  within  the  area  of  the  limestone  above 
referred  to. 


124  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

So  loyally  do.  the  companies  live  up  to  the  spirit  as 
well  as  the  letter  of  the  mutual  engagements,  that  when 
one  of  the  companies  works  in  ore  to  the  side  line  of  his 
neighbor's  claim,  and  his  neighbor's  ground  travels  across 
the  line  into  his  own  (an  event  which  not  seldom  happens 
in  ground  so  soft  and  shifting  as  the  ferruginous  clays  which 
carry  most  of  the  copper  of  the  Warren  district)  no  question 
has  arisen  as  to  the  right  of  the  original  owner  to  the  trav- 
elled ore,  nor  objection  raised  to  his  removing  it  from  the 
adjacent  claim  which  he  does  not  OAVII,  or  else  claiming  its 
value.  From  every  point  of  view,  therefore,  I  believe  the 
companies  of  both  districts  have  benefited;  and  the  popula- 
tion at  large  of  both  have  prospered.  Moreover,  to  this 
abolition  of  the  Law  of  the  Apex  and  the  voluntary  adoption 
of  the  common  law  rule,  may  safely  be  attributed  the  rapid 
strides  with  which  the  whole  of  southern  Arizona  has 
advanced  of  late. 

Under  the  old  Spanish  mining  lawT,  as  applied  to  their 
American  colonies,  the  ownership  of  the  mineral  in  depth 
beneath  the  actual  surface  of.  the  claim  is  vested  in  the  pos- 
sessor of  the  surface,  but  if  the  miners  were  negligent  and 
tardy,  and  his  neighbor  reached  the  ore  in  depth  below  his 
surface  before  he  did,  that  neighbor  might  extract  the  ore, 
accounting  to  the  owner  for  a  certain  share  in  the  profits. 
In  that  way  the  Spanish  government,  which  depended  for 
revenue  on  the  export  duty  of  minerals,  protected  itself 
against  the  absorption  of  unused  mining  property  by  un- 
productive owners;  but  the  eagerness  with  which  we  push 
forward  towards  every  indication  of  ore,  and  the  haste  with 
which  we  are  to  extract  it,  supply  sufficient  remedy  against 
so  remote  an  evil. 

As  I  have  already  remarked,  except  by  voluntary  con- 
tract such  as  above  described,  one  can  see  no  means  of  radi- 
cally amending  the  mischievous  Avorkings  of  the  Law  of 
the  Apex  in  the  older  mining  districts;  but  this  remedy  is 
available  to  all  neighboring  mine  owners,  who  wish  to  act 
in  a  neighborly  manner  and  exchange  a  possible  advantage, 
which  may  be  secured  after  great  loss  of  money  and  temper, 
for  an  assured  benefit. 

The  following  draft  of  an  agreement  embodies  such 
provisions  as  we  have  found  to  cover  the  main  points,  which, 
in  our  experience,  have  arisen  in  carrying  out  the  above 
policy : 

This  agreement,  made  and  entered  into  this 

Witnesseth:  That  whereas,  The  parties  to  this  agree- 
ment are  the  owners  of  certain  mines,  mining  claims,  and 
premises,  situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  county  of ........  . 


A    REMEDY    FOR    THE    LAW    OF    THE    APEX  125 

Territory,  of  Arizona,  the  side  lines  of  many  of  which  adjoin 
each  other,  or  are  closely  contiguous  to  each  other. 

And  whereas,  Under  existing  Statutes  of  the  United 
States  of  America  in  relation  to  leads,  lodes,  veins,  and 
deposits  of  mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock,  the  rights  of  own- 
ers and  locators  thereof,  where  the  apex  exists  within  the 
surface  boundaries  of  a  claim,  to  follow  such  leads,  lodes, 
veins,  or  deposits  upon  their  dip,  outside  of  and  beyond  the 
side  lines  of  mines,  mining  claims  and  premises,  which  are 
carried  downward  vertically  from  the  surface  indefinitely, 
have  been  established, 

And  whereas,  The  parties  hereto  desire  to  settle  and 
adjust  forever  their  respective  rights  to  the  leads,  lodes, 
veins,  and  deposits  existing  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
several  mines,  mining  claims,  and  premises  owned  by  them, 
respectively,  by  waiving  their  rights,  privileges  and  owner- 
ship arising  under  the  statutory  provisions  now  existing,  or 
which  may  hereafter  be  adopted,  in  relation  to  the  right  to 
follow  said  leads,  lodes,  veins,  or  deposits  outside  of  and 
beyond  the  side  lines  of  said  mines,  mining  claims,  and 
premises,  carried  downward  vertically  from  the  surface 
indefinitely. 

Now, .  therefore,  in  consideration  of  these  presents  and 
the  covenants,  conditions,  and  provisions  herein  set  forth, 
and  the  grants,  conveyances,  relinquishments,  and  releases 
which  are  hereby  made  by  and  between  the  parties  hereto, 
it  is  hereby  covenanted  and  agreed  by  and  between  the 
parties  hereto,  as  follows : 

First.  That  in  all  cases  where  the  lead,  lode,  vein  or 
deposit  of  mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock  situate  within  the 
surface  boundaries  of  any  mine,  mining  claim,  or  premises, 
herein  mentioned  and  referred  to,  passes  on  its  dip,  or  other- 
wise, outside  of  and  beyond  the  side  line  of  such  mine,  min- 
ing claim,  or  premises,  carried  downward  vertically  from 
the  surface  indefinitely,  the  right  of  the  owner  or  locator 
of  said  mine,  mining  claim,  or  premises,  in. which  said  lead, 
lode,  vein,  or  deposit  exists  to  follow  the  same  and  to  ex- 
tract the  ore  therefrom  after  it  passes  on  its  dip,  or  other- 
wise, outside  of  and  beyond  said  vertical  side  lines  into  the 
mine,  mining  claim,  or  premises,  owned  by  the  other  party 
or  parties  hereto,  is  relinquished  and  released  to,  is  hereby 
forever  vested  in  and  granted  and  conveyed  to  the  party  to 
this  agreement  that  is  the  owner  of  the  mine,  mining  claim, 
or  premises,  into  which  said  lead,  lode,  vein,  or  deposit  of 
mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock  it  passes. 

Second.  That,  in  relation  to  the  said  mines,  mining 
claim,  and  premises,  in  every  case  where  the  lead,  lode,  vein, 


126  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS 

or  deposit  of  mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock  shall  pass  on 
its  dip,  or  otherwise,  from  the  mines,  mining  claim,  or  prem- 
ises, of  one  party  to  this  instrument  beyond  the  side  lines 
of  such  mines,  mining  claims,  or  premises,  carried  down- 
ward vertically  from  the  surface  indefinitely,  into  the  mines, 
mining  claims,  or  premises,  of  the  other  party,  the  right 
to  follow  such  lead,  lode,  vein,  or  deposit  outside  of  or 
beyond  said  side  lines  of  such  mines,  mining  claims,  or. 
premises,  carried  downward  vertically  from  the  surface 
indefinitely,  is,  by  these  presents,  waived  and  forever  relin- 
quished and  released  by  the  parties  hereto,  each  to  the 
other,  its  successors  and  assigns. 

Third.  That  the  officers,  servants,  or  agents  of  either 
party  hereto  who  may  be  by  either  party  authorized  in 
writing,  by  the  board  of  directors  of  either  party,  shall  at 
all  times  have  free  access  into  and  through  all  exterior  and 
interior  openings  and  workings  of  any  of  the  mines,  mining 
claims,  and  premises,  herein  mentioned  and  referred  to  for 
the  purpose  of  determining  the  location  and  position  of  said 
workings  and  openings  and  of  the  ore  bodies  therein  with 
reference  to  the  side  lines  and  end  lines  of  the  said  mines, 
mining  claims,  and  premises,  carried  downward  vertically 
from  the  surface  indefinitely. 

Fourth.  That  upon  the  application  of  either  party 
hereto  for  a  United  States  patent  for  any  of  the  claims 
herein  mentioned  and  referred  to,  no  protest,  objection,  or 
adverse  claim  or  suit  shall  be  entered,  made,  filed,  or  insti- 
tuted by  either  party  hereto  against  the  other  who  shall 
apply  for  such  patent,  on  account  of  the  working  or  mining 
of  leads,  lodes,  veins,  or  deposits  of  mineral  bearing  earth 
or  rock,  or  the  extraction  of  ores  therefrom,  which  are 
found  upon  the  dip  of  the  leads,  lodes,  veins,  or  deposits  of 
mines,  mining  claims,  or  premises,  for  which  such  United 
States  patent  is  applied. 

Fifth.  That  in  all  cases  in  which  United  States  patents 
may  be  hereafter  granted  for  the  mines,  mining  claims,  or 
premises  of  either  party,  situate  in  the  Copper  Mountain 

mining  district  in  the  county  of ,  Territory 

of  Arizona,  this  agreement  shall  operate  as  a  covenant  on 
the  part  of  each  of  the  parties  hereto  that  upon  the  acqui- 
sition by  either  party  of  the  outstanding  title  in  the  United 
States  of  America  in  unpatented  claims,  all  the  covenants 
herein  shall  be  deemed  immediately  applicable  to,  and  shall 
control  and  determine  the  rights  of  the  parties  hereto  in 
relation  to  following  any  leads,  lodes,  veins  or  deposits  of 
mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock  in  such  patented  claims 
beyond  the  side  lines  thereof,  carried  downward  vertically 


A    REMEDY    FOR    THE    LAW    OF    THE    APEX  12? 

from  the  surface  indefinitely,  notwithstanding  the  grant  and 
conveyance  by  the  United  States  of  America  to  either  party 
hereto  of  said  leads,  lodes,  veins,  or  deposits  of  mineral  bear- 
ing earth  or  rock,  and  the  exclusive  right  of  possession  and 
enjoyment  of  all  the  surface  included  within  the  lines  of 
their  locations,  and  of  all  veins,  lodes,  and  ledges  through^ 
out  their  entire  depth,  the  top  or  apex  of  which  lies  inside 
of  such  surface  lines  extended  downward,  vertically  $  alj 
though  such  veins,  lodes,  or  ledges  may  so  far  depart  from 
a  perpendicular  in  their  course  downward  as  to  extend  out- 
side  the  vertical  side  ftnes  of  such  locations. 

Sixth.  That  either  party  hereto,  upon  the  request  of 
the  other,  and  without  further  or  additional  consideration, 
shall  and  will  make,  execute  and  deliver  to  the  other  such 
further  or  additional  instrument  or  conveyance  as  shall, 
subject  to  the  proviso  aforesaid,  absolutely  vest  the  owner- 
ship of  any  lead,  lode,  vein,  or  deposit  in  any  mine,  mining 
claim,  or  premises  therein  mentioned  or  referred  to,  so  pass- 
ing outside  of  and  beyond  the  side  lines  thereof,  in  the  other 
party  who  is  the  owner  of  any  adjoining  or  closely  contigu- 
ous mine,  mining  claim,  or  premises,  herein  mentioned  and 
referred  to;  such  ownership,  however,  shall  be  restricted 
and  confined  within  said  side  lines  of  the  mines,  mining 
claims,  or  premises  of  such  other  party,  carried  downward 
vertically  from  the  surface  indefinitely. 

Seventh.  That  the  party  of  the  first  part  hereto,  and 
the  parties  of  the  second  part  and  of  the  third  part  hereto, 
for  the  consideration  herein  expressed  and  in  consideration 
of  the  sum  of  one  dollar  ($1.00)  by  each  paid  to  the  other, 
the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  forever 
released  and  discharged  each  other,  from  any  and  all  debts, 
dues,  claims,  demands,  damages,  and  suits  at  law  or  in 
equity,  for,  or  on  account  of  any  trespass  or  injury  done  or 
committed  in  working  in  or  upon  and  leads,  lodes,  veins, 
ledges,  or  deposits  of  mineral  bearing  earth  or  rock,  in  any 
mine,  mining  claim,  or  premises,  herein  mentioned  and  re- 
ferred to,  or  in  the  extraction  of  the  ores  thereof,  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  to  the  date  of  these  present. 

Eighth.  That  this  instrument,  which  is  to  be  executed 
by  the  party  of  the  first  part  and  the  party  of  the  second 
part  in  the  Territory  of  Arizona,  in  the  United  States  of 

America,  and  by  the  party  of  the  third  part  in 

shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Arizona. 

Ninth.  That  the  mines,  mining  claims,  and  premises, 
mentioned  and  referred  to  in  Schedule  A,  hereto  annexed, 
constitute  the  property  of  the  party  of  the  first  part  hereto, 


128  PROCEEDINGS  AMERICAN  MINING  CONGRESS. 

and  the  mines,  mining  claims,  and  premises,  mentioned  and 
referred  to  in  Schedule  B,  hereto  annexed,  constitute  the 
property  of  the  party  of  the  second  part  and  of  the  party  of 
the  third  part  hereto,  and  Schedules  A  and  B,  hereto  an- 
nexed, are  hereby  made  a  part  of  and  are  deemed  to  be 
incorporated  in,  this  agreement,  as  a  part  hereof,  and  that 
said  party  of  the  third  part,  for  the  consideration  therein 
expressed,  hereby  assents  to  and  confirms  this  agreement 
and  all  the  covenants,  conditions,  and  provisions  therein 
contained. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this 
instrument  to  be  executed  in  triplicate  in  the  manner  un- 
derwritten, and  have  caused  their  respective  corporate  seals 
to  be  hereto  duly  affixed,  the  day  and  year  first  above 
written. 


The  History  of  Gold  and  Silver 


l:Y     JAAIKS     \V.     MALCOLMSON,    KANSAS    CITY,    MISSOURI. 

The  history  of  gold  and  silver  to  a  large  degree  is  the 
history'  of  civilization.  These  metals  have  been  found  in 
all  countries  of  the  world  and  are  widely  diffused  through- 
out the  crust  of  the  earth. 

In  the  earlier  ages  of  the  world's  history,  gold  was 
obtained  more  readily  than  silver,  as  it  is  not  affected  by 
oxidation  or  decay.  On  account  of  its  weight,  it  settles 
in  the  metallic  state  in  streams  to  the  bedrock  and  on 
account  of  its  resistance  to  natural  leaching  processes,  it  is 
often  found  at  the  outcrops  of  mineral  deposits  when  all 
other  minerals  hare  disappeared  entirely. 

Silver,  on  the  other  hand,  is  but  seldom  found  in  the 
metallic  state,  but  is  more,  often  mixed  with  gold,  lead, 
copper,  or  zinc.  Pure  silver  minerals,  such  as  the  chloride 
or  sulphide  are  almost  as  rare  as  native  silver  and  silver 
ores  are  usually  complex  mixtures  in  which  other  metals 
predominate.  • 

The  processes  of  treatment  of  silver  ores  are  therefore 
more  complex  than  those  of  gold,  and  the  metal  is  only 
obtained  by  regular  underground  mining  operations,  as  it 
is  but  rarely  carried  away  from  the  zone  of  its  original 
deposition. 

It  is  pro.bable  that  gold  was  employed  long  before 
silver  was  known  and  the  value  of  silver  in  some  ancient 
states  appears  to  have  been  superior  to  that  of  gold. 
Even  in  Japan,  up  to  the  seventeenth  century,  the  value 
of  gold  and  silver*  were  almost  equal.  Soon  after  the 
first  opening  of  that  country  to  commerce  the  Dutch  secured 
nearly  all  the  gold  of  Japan  in  exchange  for  silver,  before 
the  Japanese  learned  the  difference  in  values  in  Europe. 

In  ancient  Greece  in  the  days  of  Herodotus,  gold  was 
thirteen  times  more  valuable  than  silver  and  this  ratio 
appears  to  have  been  fairly  constant  for  many  centuries. 
For  .nearly  1,000  years  to  the  fall  of  Constantinople,  the 
ratio  of  value  of  gold  to  silver  in  the  Roman  Empire  was 
approximately  12  to  1. 

In  Arabia,  in  the  sixth  century,  the  ratio  was  61  to  1, 
while  at  the  same  time  it  was  10  to  1  in  France. 

In  Spain  in  1493  it  was  10f  to  1. 

In  1500  the  ratio  of  value  of  gold  to  silver  was  10] 
tol. 

In  1600,  it  was  12  to  1. 


Kill  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN"     MIX  IXC    COXCRKSS 

In  1700  it  was  15  to  1. 

In  1800  it  was  151  to  1. 

In  1900  it  was  &U  to  1,  prolmbly  on  account  of  its 
demonetization  throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  Europe  and 
America. 

It  was  a  remarkable  fact  thai  from  IWiO  to  ISdO,  a 
IK  rioel  of  .200  years,  the  ratio  of  the  value  of  gold  and  silver 
remained  almost  stationary  at  15|  to  1. 

The  search  for  gold  has  been  the-  first  cause  of  the  set- 
t  lenient  of  mnch  of  the  earth's  surface4  by  civilized  races. 
Del  Mar  believes  that  the  Argonauts,  who  sailed  from  Thes- 
saly  with  Jason  to  obtain  the  golden  fleece  of  Colchis,  were 
probably  leaders  in  a  rush  to  a  new  gold  field  or  placer 
deposit  along  one  of  the  rivers  flowing  into  the  Black  Sea. 
The  allusion  to  the  golden  fleece  perhaps  indicates  the  use 
(.f  sheep  skins  in  sluice  boxes  in  the  way  (hat  we  still  use 
woolen  blankets  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  settlement  of  Egypt  by  the  Semitic  races  of  Asia 
has  been  thought  to  be  contemporaneous  with  the  first  dis.- 
covery  of  the  gold  mines  of  the  Peninsula  of  Sinai,  more1 
than  2,500  years  before  Christ,  and  the  Phoenicians  and 
Jews,  the  kinsmen  of  these  hardy  pioneers,  went  out  and 
searched  the  whole  world  for  minerals. 

In  the  Book  of  Job,  supposed,  I  believe4,  to  have  beer. 
written  1,500  years  before  Christ,  a  notable  reference  to 
gold  and  silver  occurs,  as  follows:  ''Surely  there  is  a  vein 
for  the  silver  and  a  place  for  gold  where1  they  fine  it,  as 
for  the  earth,  the  stones  of  it  are  the  place  of  sapphires  and 
it  hath  dust  of  gold.7' 

Of  Solomon,  who  lived  1,000  years  before  Christ,  it  was 
said  that  "All  his  drinking  vessels  and  all  the  vessels  of  his 
house  were  of  gold,  none  were  of  silver,  it.  was  nothing 
accounted  in  the  days  of  Solomon."  Solomon  was  perhaps 
our  first  Bonanza  Mining  King.  It  is* a  curious  fact  in  the 
history  of  mining  the  precious  metals,  that  no  matter  how 
intelligent  or  economical  a  man  may  be,  if  he  be  unsuccess- 
ful in  finding  ore,  his  industry  and  talent  count  for  noth- 
ing; and  no  matter  IIOAV  imprudent  or  unintelligent  he  may 
leally  be,  if  he  finds  rich  ore  and  makes  a  huge  profit,  he  is 
hailed  everywhere  as  Wisdom  personified.  It  was  probable 
that  something  of  this  sort  happened  to  Solomon  and  since1 
then,  his  mines  have1  been  the  theme  of  the  novelist  and  thej 
poet.  He  was  closely  allied  with  be>th  the  Egyptians  and 
the  Phoenicians;  he  married  Pharaoh's  daughter  and  was  a 
e-lose  friend  and  ally  e>f  Hiram  of  Tyre,  King  of  Phoenicia. 
On  account  of  his  successes  in  gold,  mining  in  Africa,  in 
Egypt  and  elsewhere,  it  is  probable  that  every  wise  saying 


THE  HISTORY  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER.          1:51 

for  centuries  was  attributed  to  him.  Even  his  matrimonial 
adventures  are  more  or  less  characteristic  of  many  success- 
ful mining'  operations  of  our  own  time.  In  southeastern 
Africa,  over  an  area  of  600  miles  square,  the  ruins  of  forti- 
fied cities. and  great  mining  camps  are  found,  about  which 
almost  nothing  is  known  today,  except  that  the  occupation 
of  the  ancient  inhabitants  was  gold  mining.  It  is  estimated 
that  over  four  hundred  million  dollars  worth  of  gold  was 
extracted  from  these  mines. 

Andrew  Lang  says  of  them: 

"Into  the  darkness  'whence  they  came,  they  passed, 
Their  country  knoweth  none; 
They  and  their  gods  without  a  name 
Partake  the  same  oblivion. 
Their  work  they  did,  their  work  is  done 
Whose  gold  it  may  be  shone  like  fire, 
About,  the  brows  of  Solomon 
And  in  the  house  of  God's  desire. 
We  know  but  that  men  fought  and  fell 
Like  us,  like  us,  for  love  of  gold!" 

The  silver  mines  of  Laurium,  30  miles  west  of  Athens 
were  worked  for  centuries  by  the  Greeks  and  are  referred 
to  by  Tacitus,  Aristotle  and  many  other  writers.  They  weem 
to  have  been  worked  originally  by  the  Phoenicians,  1,200 
years  before  Christ.  Demetrius,  a  Greek  writer,  AV!IO  lived 
800  years  before  Christ,  boasted  that  the  Greeks,  worked 
these  properties  with  such  energy  that  they  threatened  to 
dig  up  the  devil  himself.  Shortly  after  this  period,  min- 
ing operations  were  shut  down.  The  mines  of  Laurium 
were  re-opened  very  successfully  by  the  French  in  1S(5()  and 
aie  paying  dividends  at  the  present  time. 

In  the  search  for  gold,  the  Phoenicians,  and  afterwards 
the  Romans,  who  Avere  more  skillful  miners  than  the  Greeks 
were  led  to  Spam,  which  was  to  the  ancient  world  what 
Mexico  is  to  us  today,  but  during  the  most  critical  period 
of  the  Punic  wars,  Koine  debased  its  silver  money  and 
demonetized  its  copper  coinage,  because  the  silver  and  cop- 
per supplies  of  the  world  at  that  time  came  from  Spain, 
then  in  possession  of  the  Carthaginian  army.  Hannibal", 
however,  had  other  resources  and  this  became,  probably, 
(lie  first 'great  war  in  history  where  the  troops  of  both 
armies  were  paid  in  gold  coin. 

In  the  fourth  century  the  Romans  worked,  gold  mines 
in  every  province  of  Europe  and  practically  all  the  gold 
known  at  that  time  was  in  their  possession. 

Humboldt  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  America 
was  discovered  because  Columbus  sought  a  nearer  way  to 
the  gold  mines  of  Japan,  Avhile  rortez  and  Pizarro  peue- 


132  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

trated  the  unknown  forests  of  the  New  World  in  the  search 
for  the  precious  metals. 

The  conquest  of  India  and  South  Africa,  the  settlement 
of  California,  Australia  and  Alaska,  all  originated  in  the 
desire  to  obtain  golden  treasure,  and  the  search  for  gold 
has  carried  the  torch  of  civilization  throughout  the  world. 
It  is  a  curious  fact,  however,  that  th-^  English  speaking  peo- 
ple alone  produce  today  nearly  seven-eighths  of  the  world's 
production  of  gold. 

Asia  possesses  a  remarkable  capacity  for  the  absorption 
of  gold  and  silver  and  much  of  the  precious  metals  sent 
there  seems  to  be  permanently  withdrawn  from  our  stocks 
available  for  money.  It  may  be  that  much  of  this  is  hoarded 
or  buried  in  the  ground  and  lost,  becoming  practically  non- 
existent. Asia  has  been  called  the  sink  of  gold  and  silver 
and  its  ability  to  absorb  or  lose  .these  metals  has  been  a 
subject  of  remark  ever  since  the  time  of  Alexander  the 
Great. 

Among  all  civilized  peoples,  gold  and  silver  have  de- 
rived their  chief  importance  from  their  use  as  money.  In 
the  earlier  period,  the  first  money  known  and  even  still  in 
use  among  undeveloped  or  isolated  communities  consists  of 
skins,  salt,  shells,  soap,  slaves,  cattle,  sheep,  olive  oil, 
tobacco,  iron,  tin,  lead,  copper,  nickel  and  platinum.  In 
such  communities  transportation  facilities  were  rudimen- 
tary, commercial  operations  were  limited  to  small  areas  and 
carried  forward  slowly,  on  a  small  scale.  Money  lias  been 
defined  as  that  which  passes  from  hand  to  hand  throughout 
the  community  in  final  discharge  of  debts  and  as  full  pay- 
ment for  commodities  or  service,  being  accepted  without 
reference  to  the  character  or  credit  of  the  person  who  offers 
it. 

For  many  reasons,  the  metals  finally  superseded  all 
other  forms  of  money  and  gold  is  gradually  displacing  all 
other  metals  and  driving  them  from  the  field.  Cattle  die, 
iron  rusts,  slaves  grow"  old,  but  gold  and  silver,  and  more 
especially  gold,  fulfills  all  the  requirements  of  money  bet- 
ter than  anything  else  we  know  of.  Gold  is  of  small  volume 
compared  with  its  weight  and  value,  it  is  of  uniform  good- 
ness and  quality,  easy  of  transport,  easily  guarded,  readily 
divided  and  reunited  without  loss.  Its  identity  is  perfect, 
it  is  easily  recognized  and  is  beautiful,  brilliant  and  dur- 
able almost  to  eternity. .It  is  probable  that  gold  which  was 
in  use  at  the  time  of  Solomon  is  in  active  service  still.  Gold 
does  not  deteriorate  with  storage  or  time  and  its  firm  and 
compact  texture,  makes  it  difficult  to  wear  away. 


THE   HISTORY    OF    GOLD    AND   SILVER  133 

Until  within  the  last  generation,  the  value  of  gold 
bore  practically  no  relation  to  its  cost  of  production,  but 
depended  only  on  the  total  quantity  in  the  hands  of  man- 
kind. For  ages,  its  values  changed  only  by  slow  degrees. 
In  ancient  times,  strong  nations  plundered  weaker  races 
of  their  hoards  of  the  precious  metals  and  more  modern 
powers  have  followed  their  example,  using  it  without 
regard  to  its  cost  of  production. 

It  is  probable  that  gold  and  silver  were  used  as  money 
long  before  the  metals  were  stamped  and  coined  and  this 
was  ultimately  drone  in  order  to  save  the  trouble  of  weighing 
and  assaying  for  each  transaction.  The  talent,  shekel,  etc., 
in  the  Hebrew  records  all  refer  to  the  use  of  money  by 
AY  eight,  while  the  English  pound  and  the  Spanish  peso  and 
onza  all  indicate  weight.  The  word  coin  itself,  meaning  a 
wedge,  indicates  a  primitive  method  of  using  money.  Our 
word  pecuniary,  now  applied  to  metallic  money,  origin- 
ally meant  cattle,  and  from  the  custom  of  counting  cattle, 
comes  our  present  designation  of  money  as  capital,  meaning 
heads. 

The  coinage  of  gold  and  silver  was  adopted  at  first  by 
private  individuals  and  cities  to  guarantee  originally  the 
fineness  and  afterwards  both  the  weight  and  purity  of  the 
metals.  In  Rome,  under  the  empire,  however,  coinage 
became  the  exclusive  privilege  of  the  Emperor.  Herodo- 
tus attributes  the  first  use  of  coined  gold  and  silver  to  the 
Lydians,  but  it  is  probable  that  the  real  date  was  much 
earlier. 

As  civilization  advanced,  the  use  of  gold  and  silver 
as  money  became  a  modification  and  an  improvement  on 
the  earlier  methods  of  simple  barter  and  gold  presented  us 
with  a  desirable  standard  of  comparison  with  which  all 
other  values,  even  including  future  obligations  are  com- 
pared and  measured. 

Gold,  however,  is  not  an  absolute  standard,  such  as 
the  pound  weight  or  the  metre  length,  but  is  simply  a  rela- 
tive measure  of  value  as  steady  as  anything  wTe  know  of.  In 
other  words  it  is  possible  for  gold  itself  to  change  in  value. 
The  control  of  weights  and  measures  has  always  been  one 
of  the  great  functions  of  governments  and  is  one  of  the  nec- 
essary prerogatives  of  national  life  and  honor,  and  every 
honest  government  since  the  dawn  of  history  has  protected 
the  use  of  gold  and  silver  with  the  best  guarantees  it  could 
devise,  both  as  regards  its  weight  and  its  purity.  The  repu- 
tation  of  any  government  can  be  more  readily  and  more  ser- 
iously injured  by  the  debasement  or  the  defects  of  its  cur- 
rency than  in  any  other  way.  Changes  in  the  value  of  gold 


134  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

• 

are  reflected  immediately  in  the  price  of  some  commodities 
and  very  slowly  in  the  price  of  others,  particularly  in  wages 
and  returns  from  investments  bearing  a  iixed  rate  of  inter- 
est. In  any  change  in  the  value  of  gold,  the  majority  of  the 
poorer  portion  of  the  community  suffers  most;  employers 
and  merchants  are  quick  to  discount  any  change  and  they 
adjust  themselves  to  new  conditions  more  readily  than  the 
wage  earning  classes.  Those  living  on  the  interest  paid  on 
bonds  or  mortgages,  cannot  adjust  themselves  to  the  change 
at  all,  and  are  paid  a,  fixed  amount  of  gold,  irrespective 
of  its  value.  The  wealth  stored  up  by  all  com  in  unities  in 
interest  bearing  bonds,  using  gold  as  a  fixed  standard  for 
future  payments,  is  affected  enormously  by  changes  in  the 
value  of  gold  and  the  result  of  such  changes  on  the  busi- 
ness and  commerce  of  the  world  is  hard  to  realize. 

Although  gold  is  mentioned  in  the  earlier  literature  of 
every  race,  it  is  difficult  to  learn  its  ancient  value  as  meas- 
ured in  terms  of  food  and  Avages.  It  is  certain,  however, 
that  its  value  in  early  times  was  a  thousand  times  greater 
than  it  is  today  and  that  this  value  had  been  decreasing 
slowly  until  the  discovery  of  America.  In  the  thirteenth 
century,  it  was  estimated  that  the  total  stock  of  gold  and 
silver  in  Europe  was  approximately  six  dollars  per  capita, 
the  population  at  that  time  being  thirty  millions.  Only 
one-half  of  this  gold  and  silver  was  coined;  no  banks  or 
negotiable  paper  existed.  Good  roads  were  few  and  there 
was  little  peace  and  no  credit.  From  the  fifteenth  to  the 
eighteenth  centuries,  enormous  quantities  of  silver  were 
obtained,  by  Europe  from  the  New  World  and  the  gold  sup- 
plies of  Japan  and  India  were  gradually  transferred  to 
Europe  until  by  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  there 
was, estimated  to  be  ten  times  as  much  of  the  precious  met- 
als in  Europe  as  in  the  thirteenth  century.  As  before  men- 
^  ioned,  previous  to  the  eighteenth  century,  the  value  of  gold 
bore  practically  no  relation  to  its  cost  of  production,  but 
depended  primarily  on  its  peculiar  fitness  for  money  as  a 
basis  of  value  and  on  the  total  amount  in  use.  Before  1840 
the  annual  production  of  gold  bore  puck  a  small  relation  to 
the  total  quantity  existing,  that  its  cost  of  production  from 
year  to  year  never  materially  affected  the  value  of  the  whole 
quantity  in  use  and  Yon  Hum-bold t,  in  a  remarkable  arti- 
cle on  the  production  of  gold,  written  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  predicted  that  these  conditions 
would  exist  for  all  time. 

In  1845  the  annual  production  of  gold  in  Russia  in- 
creased very  largely  and  all  Europe1  was  alarmed.  In  Hol- 
land the  desirability  of  a  single  silver  standard  was  widely 


THE    HISTORY    OF   GOLD    AND    SILVER  i:',r» 

discussed.  In  the  Netherlands,  gold  was  demonetized  in 
1847  and  the  silver  florin  declared  1o  be  the  sole  legal  ten- 
der. Belgium  soon  followed  suit.  In  1847  a  run  occurred 
on  the  Bank  of  England.  In  1848  the  Bank  of  Austria  stop- 
ped payment  and  when  in  1849  California  began  to  give  its 
golden  treasury  to  the  world,  the  golden  panic  reached  its 
height.  In  1857  Russia  suspended  payments  in  specie  and 
the  German  states,  including  Austria,  adopted  a  single  sil- 
ver standard.  Chevalier  advised  the  government  of  France 
to  demonetize  gold  and  Cobden,  in-  England,  seriously  rec- 
ommended a  return  to  simple  barter.  After  this  increased 
production  of  gold,  however,  the  actual  course  of  events 
reversed  all  predictions,  prices  rose  everywhere,  and  the 
world  entered  upon  a  period  of  unexampled  progress  and 
prosperity,  and  in  1871  the  German  empire  finally  adopted 
the  gold  standard  and  discontinued  the  mintage  of  silver, 
being  followed  in  1873  by  the  United  States  and  France  and 
by  the  Latin  Union,  Holland  and  Belgium  in  1875. 

It  is,  however,  owing  to  the  utilization  of  the  power  of 
steam,  during  the  past  50  years,  a  cause  which  has  wrought 
so  many  changes  in  human  affairs,  that  the  use  of  gold  as 
money  has  been  almost  completely  revolutionized.  The 
amount- of  gold  in  the  world,  which,  before  1850  had  in- 
creased slowly  and  had  barely  kept  up  with  the  increase  in 
population,  suddenly  increased  by  leaps  and  bounds.  It 
became  twice  as  great,  ten  times  as  great,  and  by  the  year 
1900,  the  annual  production  of  gold  became  approximately 
400  tons,  or  22  times  as  great  as  in  1800.  Since  then,  the 
production  has  increased  with  equal  rapidity,  until  now,  it 
has  reached  680  tons  per  year,  and  it  is  estimated  by 
competent  authorities,  that  in  the  next  16  or  17  years  the 
amount  of  gold  in  the  world  will  be  doubled.  In  other 
words,  the  amount  of  gold  which  has  taken  the  whole  civ- 
ilized world  thousands  of  years  to  accumulate,  will  be  dou- 
bled in  our  own  lifetime.  In  addition  to  this,  the  spread 
of  knowledge,  the  development  of  railroad  and  ocean  trans- 
portation, the  use  of  the  telegraph  and  the  growth  of  mod- 
ern banking  methods,  have  all  increased  the  efficiency  of 
gold  as  money.  This  has  also  been  aided  by  the  greater 
confidence  which  races  and  individuals  now  have  in  each 
other,  which  is  one  of  the  great  underlying  features  of  our 
modern  civilization  and  a  golden  dollar  can  now  be  made 
to  do  more  than  a  hundred  dollars  did  a  century  ago.  These 
rapid  changes  are  being  accompanied  by  others  equally 
remarkable;  money  can  now  be  transported  throughout  the 
world  at  a.  speed  undreamt  of  by  our  fathers,  cheaply  and 


I.!*;  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

with  almost  perfect  safety.  Its  use  has  been  still  further 
facilitated  by  international  and  other  clearing  houses, 
where  transactions  involving  the  use  of  the  measuring 
power  of  gold  are  affected  to  an  enormous  extent  by  tele- 
egraphic  communication  without  actually  moving  or  hand- 
ling the  gold  itself  at  all.  All  this  has  tended  to  make  gold 
cheaper.  On  the  other  hand,  the  enormous  scale  on  which 
commercial  enterprise  is  now  being  carried  forward,  the 
improved  mode  of  living  of  whole  races,  the  demands  of 
industry  for  money  along  so  many  different  lines,  the  money 
needed  in  the  building  up  of  new  countries  and  the  funds 
required  for  war  purposes,  all  tend  to  keep  up  the  price  of 
gold. 

Underlying  all  these  activities,  however,  remains  the 
commodity  gold,  upon  which  all  our  calculations  are  based 
pnd  the  fact  must  always  be  remembered  that  gold  as 
money  is  only  a  measure  of  value  by  virtue  of  its  relation 
to  the  value  of  other  commodities.  In  all  countries,  appre- 
hension is  felt  when  gold  is  exported  and  this  perhaps  is 
an  unconscious  admission  that  the  quantity  of  gold  in  any 
community  exercises  an  important  influence  on  its  indus- 
tries and  its  commerce. 

The  use  of  gold  as  money  is  primarily  a  modification  of 
the  system  of  barter  or  exchange  and  is  to  a  lesser  degree 
than  any  other  material  human  standard,  a  creation  of  law. 
At  the  same  time  it  must  always  be  the  effort  of  govern- 
ment to  limit  and  define  its  use  with  precision. 

In  spite  of  the  present  efficiency  of  mining  operations 
and  the  improvements  and  economies  in  metallurgical  pro- 
cesses, it  is  probable  that  the  demands  of  industry  and 
commerce  which  are  increasing  so  enormously,  will  ulti- 
mately increase  the  value  of  gold,  or  at  least  prevent  its 
depreciation  to  any  serious  extent  below  its  present  level. 
Whether  the  value  of  gold  will  change  materially  in  the 
future  or  not,  is  a  subject  that  deserves  the  earnest  consid- 
eration of  every  statesman.  Although  this  subject  has 
received  the  attention  of  thinkers  in  all  ages,  the  issues  have 
usually  been  hidden  by  the  personal  interests  of  rulers,  or 
of  those  controlling  the  supplies  of  the  precious  metals,  or 
by  the  desire  of  governments  to  secure  the  greatest  benefits 
for  their  own  coinage.  It  is  seldom  that  the  people  of  any 
community  have  had  the  opportunity  to  investigate  the  rela- 
tion of  this  question  to  their  own  welfare  and  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  some  of  the  inequalities  of  our  social  system 
may  be  traced  directly  to  this  cause.  The  growth  of  organ- 
ized society  depends  largely  upon  the  development  of  ex- 


THE    HISTORY    OF    GOLD   AND    SILVER  137 

change  and  exchange  is  impossible  without  money.  If  we 
must  continue  to  use  gold,  it  is  of  prime  importance  that  our 
government  should  be  able  to  form  an  accurate  judgment 
regarding  its  present  and  future  value  because  this,  the 
basis  of  our  monetary  system,  fixes  the  value  of  much  of  the 
property  in  our  own  country  over  long  periods  of  time. 


The  Possibilities  and  Limitations  of  Geological  Survey  Work  as  Applied  to 

the  Mining  Industry 


BY   GEORGE   OTIS   SMITH,   DIRECTOR    UNITED     STATES     GEOLOGICAL     SUR- 
VEY, WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

.     Gentlemen  of  the  American  Mining  Congress: 

The  year  1907  promises  to  mark  an  epoch  in  the, min- 
ing industry  of  the  United  States.  1  refer  to  the  proba- 
bility that  the  'value  of  the  mineral  output,  for  this  year  will 
pass  the  $2,000,000,000  mark.  Last  year  was  a  record 
breaker  Avith  its  mineral  product  valued  at  $1,902,000,000, 
an  increase  of  17  per  cent,  over  the  previous  year.  There- 
fore, before  I  discuss  the  relation  of  the  Geological 
Survey  to  the  mineral  industry  allow  me  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  in  the  first  year  of  the  Sur- 
vey's history  the  value  of  the  mineral  product  of  the 
country,  so  far  as  known,  was  only  about  one-ninth 
of  the  present  figure,  and  further,  that  now  the  value 
of  the  annua.l  product,  of  our  coal  mines  alone  exceeds 
one-half  billion  dollars,  or,  in  other  words,  is  more  than 
twice  the  total  value  of  all  the  mineral  products  of  1880. 
At  this  time  we  do  well  to  consider  whether  this  federal 
organization  has  had  any  part  in  the  national  progress 
and  whether  it  intends  to  keep  pace  with  the  development 
of  your  industry,  a  development  it  has  carefully  recorded 
during  these  twenty-eight  years. 

'  In  any  review  of  the  development  of  American  mining, 
the  man  behind  the  pick  and  the  drill  must  be  given  his 
due,  but  motive  power  counts  for  little  without  knowledge* 
to  guide  it.  And  I  take  it,  Mr.  President,  that  the  Ameri- 
can Mining  Congress  stands  for  the  intelligent  guidance 
•of  the  mining  industry,  and  in  this  the  United  States  Geo- 
logical Survey  heartily  joins. 

Your  President,'  in  his  inspiring  address  the  other 
evening,  remarked  on  the  discoveries  you  had  recently 
made  in  Washington,  and  he  was  kind  enough  to  mention 
his  discovery  of  the  Director  of  the  Geological  Survey,  but 
he  neglected  what  was  far  more  important,  the  Geological 
Survey  itself.  If  I  may  be  allowed  to  speak  in  technical 
language  he  spoke  to  you  regarding  a  small  surface  show- 
ing and  neglected  to  mention  the  big  high-grade  ore  de- 
posit beneath. 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY   WORK  139 

The  Geological  Survey  is  a  federal  bureau,  the  chief 
work  of  which  has  been  and  is  devoted  to  the  industry  you 
represent,  Reference  has  been  made  by  your  President 
to  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  its  many  bureaus 
and  its  important  work.  Our  Geological  Survey  is  expend- 
ing annually  over  $1,500,000,  in  other  words,  measured  in 
terms  of  comparison  witli  the  Department  of  Agriculture., 
it  exceeds  the  expenditures  of  several  bureaus  of  that  de- 
partment by  several  thousands  of  dollars  and  I  repeat  that 
our  work  is  largely  addressed  to  the  needs  of  the  mining 
industry.  Our  division  of  Alaskan  mineral  sources  is  larger 
than  any  one  of  several  bureaus  of  the  Department'  of  Agri- 
culture. Every  cent  of  the  $80,000  of  that  appropriation  is 
expended  in  the  interest  of  mining  in  Alaska,' 

I  might  mention  to  }rou  our  publications.  Your  Presi- 
dent spoke  of  the  Agricultural  Department,  that  it  was  is- 
suing publications  for  the  information  of  the  farmer,  by 
the  million.  We  can  say,  too,  that  we  issue  publications 
by  the  million.  The  last  year,  our  total  distribution  of  pub- 
lic documents  was  within  a  few  thousand  of  one  million 
copies. 

There  is  another  channel  through  which  our  Survey 
keeps  in  touch  with  the  mining  industry  and  with  the  min- 
ers, and  that  is,  in  the  compilation  of  mineral  statistics,  the 
divisions  of  mineral  resources,  carrying  on  correspondence 
regularly  with  no  less  than  fifty  thousand  men  interested  in 
the  mining  industry  of  the  country."  Nine  thousand  of  these 
correspondents,  for  instance,  are  gold  and  silver  miners> 
and  five  thousand  are  coal  operators.  It  is  this  kind  of 
thoroughness  in  this  work  that  leads  our  friends  in  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  to  frequently  express  their  admira- 
tion for  our  force  and  our  work.  I  regret,  therefore,  that 
President  Richards  did  not  have  time  to  be  shown  both,  but 
I  imagine  that  he  saw  more  than  what  he  told  you,  for  I 
understand  it  was  at  his  instance  that  the  Congress  today 
passed  a  resolution  asking  for  larger  appropriations  for  the 
work  of  the  Geological  Survey. 

In  speaking  to  the  subpect  assigned  me,  I  ask  for  the 
Survey  a  fair  recognition  for  its  part  in  the  past  of  Ameri- 
can mining,  and  I  promise  for  the  Survey  even  greater  en- 
deavor to  increase  its  usefulness  to  your  industry  in  the 
future.  In  making  this  promise  of  future  service  I  am  con- 
scious of  the  two  fundamental  limitations  of  a  government 
organization;  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  is  the 
servant  of  the  people  along  lines  defined  by  the  law  of  Con- 
gress, and  both  the  direction  of  our  progress  and  the  dis* 


140      •         PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

tance  covered  are  determined  and  limited  by  the  appropria- 
tion act. 

Limitation  is  but  another  name  for  boundary.  What, 
then,  axe  the  boundaries  of  our  field  of  endeavor?  Or,  if 
you  please,  the  end  lines  of  our  claim?  Interested  as  I  am 
in  the  future  development  of  the  organization  I  represent, 
I  believe  we  should  not  be  asked  to  surrender  extra-lateral 
rights,  but  only  to  show  the  persistence  of  the  lead  to  jus 
tify  further  extension  and  expansion  of  the  work. 

Congress  has  expressed  the  scope  and  purpose  of  this 
branch  of  the  public  service  in  its  name.  The  words  "United 
States"  define  its  national  character.  In  no  branch  of  in- 
dustry, probably,  are  state  lines  of  so  little  moment  as  in 
the  mining  industry.  A  mineral  product  of  fifty  years  ago 
might  have  been  credited  to  a  single  state;  but  today,  by 
reason  of  development  of  transportation,  with  its  influence 
upon  financial  operation  and  commercial  interchange,  the* 
output  of  our  mines  and  quarries  not  only  reaches  the  mar- 
kets of  the. world,  but  in  many  cases  the  marketed  product 
is  of  interstate  origin.  Years  ago  a  shipment  of  pig  iron 
could  be  set  down  as  the  product  of  a  Marquette  county 
furnace,  using  Michigan  iron  ore  from  the  mines  close  at 
hand  and  Michigan  limestone  as  well  as  charcoal  from  the 
neighboring  hills;  yet  today,  the  blast  furnace  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania  may  use  Minnesota  ore,  West  Virginia  coke 
and  New  Jersey  limestone,  and  ship  its  product  to  Cali- 
fornia, Nor  need  I  go  far  afield  for  an  illustration:  You 
men  a,t  Joplin,  for  the  operation  of  your  mines  and  mills, 
get  your  power  from  a  sister  state,  from  the  coal  mines, 
froni  the  gas  wells  and  from  the  water  power  of  Kansas. 
Nor  is  the  case  at  all  different  in  the  smelting  of  ores  of 
the  precious  or  other  metals.  Our  smelters,  whether  lo- 
cated in  the  East  or  the  West,  levy  tribute  upon  the  min- 
eral wealth  of  many  states  and  rarely  can  the  best  mixture 
of  ores  be  obtained  from  a  single  state.  Again,  in  the  study 
of  ore  deposits  the  mining  geologist  who,  for  instance,  can 
continue  his  investigations  year  by  year  through  a  series 
of  copper  camps,  has  a  great  advantage  over  an  investigator 
whose  observations  must  be  confined  to  the  mines  of  a  single 
state.  This  increase  in  opportunity  means  increase  in  value 
of  results  secured  and  published  for  the  information  of  the 
public. 

The  collection  of  mineral  statistics  and  the  study  of 
mineral  deposits  then  must  of  necessity  be  made  by  an  or- 
ganization whose  field  is  the  whole  country.  As  regards 
authority,  the  first  Director  of  the  Survey,  Clarence  King, 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  WORK  141 

well  remarked  (hat  (lie  constitutional  right  of  the  federal 
government  "to  regulate  internal  commerce  could  hardly 
fail  to  carry  Avith  it  the  correlative  right  to  gain  a  know- 
edge  of  those  commodities  and  products  which  are  the  very 
material  and  basis  of  commerce."  In  its  relation  to  the 
mining  industry,  therefore,  I  discover  no  limitations  set 
upon  the  work  of  our  Survey  by  reason  of  its  federal  char- 
acter; but  rather  see  in  this  one  of  its  greatest  sources  of 
strength  and  efficiency. 

The  second  part*  of  the  name  is  "Geological."  In  the 
wording  of  the  law  creating  the  Geological  Survey,  "min- 
eral resources"  and  "geologic  structure"  are  linked  together 
in  a  closeness  of  union  that  is  well  justified  by  the  results 
of  investigations  showing  the  absolute  dependence  of  the 
one  upon  the  other  in  so  many  mining  districts.  There  is 
then  a  fitness  in  the  use  of  this  adjective  "geological"  in 
the  title  of  the  organization.  It  expresses  a  recognition  of 
the  real  basis  of  the  mining  industry,  and  upon  this  found  a 
tiou  the  Geological  Survey  has  built  well. 

Between  the  lines  of  every  appropriation  bill  for  work 
under  the  auspices  of  our  Survey  we  may  read  the  words 
"practical"  and  "utilitarian";  yet  even  this  evident  purpose 
of  the  appropriation  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  limitation 
upon  the  nature  of  the  work.  The  very  name  of  the  or- 
ganization to  which  these  funds  are  entrusted  speaks  for 
its  scientific  character  and  in  science,  progress  is  not  at- 
tained by  the.  separation  of  the  practical  from  the  theo- 
retical, but  by  their  union.and  co-ordination.  The  fruitage 
of  theory  is  practice  and  we  cannot  gather  the  harvest  with- 
out carefully  tending  the  tree  of  knowledge.  Most  import 
tant  is  it  not  to  limit  our  concept  of  the  useful  as  did  the 
Englishman  who  is  quoted  by  Huxley  as  understanding 
utility  to  mean  "that  by  which  wre  get  pudding  or  praise,  or 
both."  Better  to  count  every  investigation  useful  which 
our  faith  tells  us  may  some  time  win  pudding  and  praise 
for  the  other  fellow.  On  this  account  you  practical  men 
must  not  under-rate  the  contribution  of  the  worker  in  pure 
science,  but  rather  realize  that  his  work  is  fundamental. 
For  these  reasons,  again,  Mr.  President,  we  count  it  not  a 
limitation,  but  the  greatest  advantage,  that  this  federal  or- 
ganization of  which  I  am  speaking  bears  the  title  "geologi- 
cal" and  that  we  therefore  approach  your  most  important 
industry  from  the  scientific  side. 

In  the  third  place,  I  can  discover  no  embarrassing  prop- 
erty line  in  the  word  "Survey."  To  most  of  us,  does  not  the 
term  carry  with  it  the  flavor  of  the  West,  and  the  inspira- 


142  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

tioii  of  discovery  and  exploration?  It  expresses  the  idea  of 
getting-  at  the  truth  at  tirst  hand,  while  such  a  word  as 
"bureau'"''  serves  only  to  emphasize  the  administrative  and 
clerical  side.  "Survey,"  then,  stands  for  work  in  the  field, 
the  winning  of  truth,  not  from  books,  but  from  rocks;  not 
in  the  office,  but  in  the  slope;  and  as  you  men  well  know, 
it  is  upon  thorough  field,  investigation  alone  that  you  can 
rely.  On  this  account,  I  rejoice  that  tweiity-eighl  years  ago 
Congress  in  its  wisdom  retained  the  tise  of  this  one  word 
which  links  the  present  organization  .with  its  predecessors 
whose  records  in  the  winning  of  the  West  are  a  valued 
heritage. 

Our  title  to  the  claim  is  well  established,  for  our  pat- 
ent rests  upon  no  nominal  compliance  with  the  require- 
ments as  to  assessment  work.  The  field  in  which  you  are 
interested  is  a  broad  one  and  you  are  justified  in  the  state- 
ment that  too  little  attention  has  been  given  to  your  indus- 
try by  the  federal  government.  Yet  thus  far  all  the  devel- 
opment work  is  to  be  credited  to  the  Tnited  States  Geo- 
logical Survey  and  its  predecessors,  and  many  witnesses 
could  be  cited  to  prove  the  value,  of  its  output.  The  subject 
of  mining  geology  was  put  foremost  in  the  plan  of  the  or- 
ganization .of  the  Survey  and  the  impetus  then  given  to  the 
investigation  of  ore  deposits  continues  to  the  present  day. 
Dr.  Raymond,  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Institute1  of 
Mining  Engineers,  has  said  that  the  leadership  which 
American  observers  have  taken  in  the  science  of  ore  depos- 
its must  be  attributed  not  only  to  the  rich  field  here  afforded 
and  its  active  development  by  mining,  as  well  as  to  tlie  lib- 
eral appropriations  made  by  state  and  federal  governments 
for  its  study,  but  also  to  what  is  most  important — the  pres 
ence  of  men  competent  to  take  advantage  of  these  favor- 
able conditions  and  "the  wise  provision  made  for  such  in- 
vestigations by  the  first  Director  of  the  United  States  Geo- 
logical Survey." 

May  -I  now  speak  of  the  possiblities  of  the  United 
States  jeolog-.cal  Survey? 

At  other  sessions  of  this  Congress,  representatives  of 
the  Survey  have  explained  to  you  the  contributions  it  has 
made  and  is  making  to  your  industry,  and  already  I  have 
incidentally  touched  on  some  of  these.  I  propose,  there- 
fore, to  conihie  myself  to  only  a  brief  mention  of  the  pres- 
ent work,  and  that  merely  as  a  basis  .for  the  statements  of 
further  possibilities  of  development  in  your  behalf. 

Our  topographic  maps  in  accuracy  of  detail  and  in  ex- 
cellence of  mechanical  execution  are  of  the  highest  grade. 


GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY  WORK  143 

Every  three  days  our  om'ce  is  publishing  one  of  these  maps, 
based  on  actual  survey,  and  much  oftener  is  printing  a  new 
edition  of  some  eailier  sheet;  yet  we  appreciate  the  fact 
that  one  class  of  men,  to  whom  many  of  these  maps  would 
be  of  greatest  assistance — the  prospectors — rarely  know 
that  such  a  map  is  extant.  Of  even  greater  value  is  this 
map  To  The  mine,  operator,  who  follows  the  prospector  and 
plans  the  development  of  the  property,  and  therefore  should 
have  before  him  all  the  data  bearing  upon  the  important 
questions  of  water  supply  and  transportation.  The  en- 
deavor of  the  Geological  Survey  must  be,  not  alone  to  make 
better  topographic  maps  and  more  of  them,  but  to  get  these 
maps  into  the  hands  of  the  people  for  whom  they  are  made. 

Much  the  same  statement  can  be  presented  regarding 
our  geologic  maps.  Every  month,  on  the  average,  a  folio  is 
issued  which  presents  graphically  all  that  is  known  regard- 
ing the  geologic  structure  and  the  distribution  of  the  min- 
eral wealth  within  a  district  embracing  an  area  of  from  200 
to  1,000  square  miles.  A  large  proportion  of  these  geologic 
folios  cover  mining  districts  and  are  especially  addressed 
to  the  mining  fraternity.  However,  it  again  appears  that 
the  Survey's  geologic  folios  do  not  reach  all  Avho^  might 
profit  by  the  facts  they  set  forth.  The  price  asked  for  these 
publications  is  only  nominal;  the  real  difficulty  is  that  of 
advertising  our  output.  Recognizing  the  possibility  of  in- 
creasing our  usefulness  by  wider  publicity,  I  pledge  my- 
self to  a  special  effort  to  reach  the  mining  man,  however 
distant  from  the  .great  centers  he  may  be. 

Perhaps  the  Survey  has  nowhere  better  improved  its 
opportunity  to  aid  the  mining  industry  than  in  Alaska.  The 
literature  on  .Alaska  of  A'alue  to  the  mining  man  is  almost 
wholly  composed  of  Survey  publications;  yet  the  explora- 
tion work  represented  by  these  reports  and  maps  has  in- 
volved an  expenditure  of  less  than  half  a  million  dollars, 
or  only  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  gold  output  for  the 
same  period.  Few  taxes  are  so  light  as  this,  especially  when 
we  consider  also  that  the  work  done  by  the  government 
geologist  covers  also  the  coal,  copper  and  other  resources  of 
that  district,  and-  that  the  benefits  Avill  continue  through 
a  term  of  years. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  importance  of 
reliable  statistics  regarding  the  mining  industry.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  the  Geological  Survey  the  coun- 
i  ry  possessed  no  adequate  knowledge  of  the  status  of  min- 
ing, although  this  is  one  of  the  groat  primary  industries 
based  upon  natural  resources*  Advantage  was  at  once 


144  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

taken  of  the  new  organization,  and  the  systematic  statis- 
tical study  of  the  mining  industry  under  the  tenth  census 
was  entrusted  to  Director  King.  I  refer  to  this  because  in 
the  successful  issue  of  the  work  under  these  auspices  can  be 
discerned  the  correct  policy  for  this  important  work.  Mr. 
King's  plan  of  utilizing  for  statistical  work  the  services  of 
those  most  closely  in  touch  with  th'e  mines  deserves  con- 
tinuance, and  in  view  of  our  recent  progress  along  this  same 
line  I  assure  you  that  there  is  within  our  reach  the  possi- 
bility of  much  greater  usefulness  to  your  industry. 

The  scope  of  the  Survey's  statistical  work,  like  that  of 
all  other  of  its  investigations,  has  been  limited  by  the  ap- 
propriation available;  increase  that,  and  more  and  more 
can  be  done  in  the  matter  of  keeping  the  country  informed 
as  to  the  phenomenal  development  in  the  technology  of  the 
mining  industry,  as  well  as  the  no  less  marked  increase  in 
production.  I  need  only  to  suggest  to  you  the  inherent 
connection  existing  between  an  adequate  and  exact  knowl 
dege  of  any  industry  and  its  future  development.  It  is  only 
by  observing,  recording,  and  publishing  each  advance  in 
the  utilization  of  these  mineral  resources  that  true  progress 
will  be  insured;  and  here,  again,  it  is  to  be  noted  that  to  se- 
cure the  best  results  there  must  be  the  closest  relations 
between  geologist  and  statistician;  best  of  all  is  it  when  the 
investigator  can  justly  claim  both  titles.  Without  full  in- 
formation regarding  the  latest  development  in  mining,  met- 
allurgical, or  milling  practice,  the  geologist-explorer  cannot 
intelligently  conduct  the  work  entrusted  to  him;  and  on  the 
other  hand,  without  a  quantitative  knowledge  of  the  varied 
contents  of  Nature's  mineral  storehouse  the  student  of  sta- 
tistics cannot  appreciate  the  bearing  of  the  data  he  collects. 

"The  record  of  the  Geological  Survey  in  mining  geology 
warrants  the  hope  of  greater  development  in  the  field  it  has 
occupied  during  these  years.  Let  me  again  cite  the  disin- 
terested testimony  of  those  unconnected  with  the  organiza- 
tion. A  leading  mining  journal  has  within  a  few  years 
stated  that  in  no  other  country  "has  economic  geology  been 
applied  to  the  development  of  industry  with  such  beneficent 
results  as  in  the  United  States,  and  no. (other)  geological 
survey  has  contributed  so  much  to  the  practical  application 
of  the  science  of  geology  to  mining  operations." 

Not  only  in  this  country,  but  abroad,  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey  is  regarded  as  in  reality  performing  the 
work  of  a  mining  bureau  by  reason  of  its  activity  in  fos- 
tering the  development  of  the  niineral  resources  of  the  coun- 
try. 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  WORK  145 

indeed,  foreign  engineers  are  apt  to  hold  up  our  sur- 
vey as  a  model  for  the  organization  of  a  mining  bureau. 
Only  last  night  I  was  reading  such  a  comment  from  one, 
prominent  in  the  mining  development  of  India. 

Last  year  the  Canadian  Mining  Review,  in  an  editorial, 
pointed  to  the  successful  contributions  to  the  mining  indus- 
try made  by  our  Federal  Survey  as  the  strongest  argument 
against  the  continuance  of  the  independent  existence  in 
Canada  of  a  Geological  Survey  and  a  Mines  Branch,  with 
the  resultant  duplication  of  endeavor  involving  greater  ex- 
pense and  less  efficiency.  The  effort  should  be,  not  only  to 
expand  the  work,  but  also  to  seek  a  logical  correlation  of 
all  the  various  branches  of  industry  and  of  research  that 
will  benefit  your  industry,  for  logical  correlation  means 
economy. 

I  must  not  lemve  the  subject  of  mining  geology  without 
a  reference  to  one  of  the  greater  possibilities  for  increasing 
the  efficiency  of  the  Geological  Survey.  Legislative  author- 
ity should  be  secured  for  a  certain  amount  of  investigation 
in  foreign  countries  of  ore  deposits,  together  with  mining 
conditions  and  methods.  Several  of  the  Survey's  mining1 
geologists,  from  time  to  time,  while  on  leave  of  absence, 
have  been  engaged  by  foreign  corporations  to  report  upon 
properties  in.  South  Africa,  Australia  and  South  America, 
and  the  extent  to  which  the  Survey  has  benefited  by  reason 
of  their  foreign  service  is  keenly  appreciated. 

The  statement  of  official  publications  planned  by  the 
first  Director  of  the  Geological  Survey,  twenty-eight  years 
ago,  indicates  the  value  which  he  attached  to  investigations , 
into  the  technology  of  the  mineral  industry,  even  to  the 
matter  of  testing  the  relative  cost  and  efficiency  of  different 
types  of  mining  and  milling  machinery.  Little,  however, 
was  done  along  these  lines  until,  under  Director  Walcott, 
the  Survey  took  up  the  fuer-testing  work,  which  has  reached 
so  successful  SL  development  under  the  recently  organized 
Technologic  branch  of  the  Survey.  The  chief  of  that  branch 
yesterday  spoke  to  you  on  the  need  of  conserving  our  min- 
eral resources,  and  I  need  add  little  to  his  argument  for  in- 
creasing our  work  for  the  better  utilization  of  the  country's 
fuels  and  the  prevention  of  waste.  The  statistician  in  charge 
of  the  collection  of  our  mineral  statistics  placed  before  you 
the  facts  bearing  upon  the  life  of  our  fuel  supply.  Our 
fathers  were  fond  of  referring  to  "the  all  but  exhaustless 
beds  of  anthracite,"  and  even  now  it  already  appears  that 
our  children  may  speak  of  "the  all  but  exhausted  beds  of 
anthracite." 


146  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

Again,  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  the  complexity 
of  the  mineral  industry  of  today.  The  interdependence  .of 
the  one  mineral  product  upon  many  others  makes  the  miner 
of  all  men  dependent  upon  many  factors  outside  his  own 
mine.  Waste  of  our  supply  of  wood,  water,  and  mineral 
fuels  will  hasten  the  day  when  certain  ore  deposits  can  no 
longer  be  mined  at  a  profit.  Hence,  we  count  upon  y< mi- 
mine  owners  for  hearty  support  in  the  work  that  the  Forest 
Service  and  the  Geological  Survey  are  doing  in  the  conser- 
vation of  the  natural  resources  of  the  nation. 

At  the  El  Paso  session  of  your  congress  the  chief  geol- 
ogist of  the  Survey  enumerated  certain  apparent  needs  of 
the  mining  industry  for  meeting,  which  insufficient  provis- 
ion had  been  made  by  the  federal  government.  The  argu- 
ments clearly  set  forth  at  that  time  I  will  not  repeat,  yet  it 
is  worthy  of  note  that  a  full  compliance*  with  the  demand 
for  free  assays  and  for  free  advice,  both  as  regards  mineral 
properties  and  mining  technology,  would  be  of  the  nature  of 
an  expansion  of  work  already  undertaken  by  the  Survey, 

One  distinction,  however,  must  be  made  between  what 
may  be  asked  and  what  can  be  granted  by  the  I'Yderal  Geo- 
logical Survey.  I  refer  to  the  legal  restrictions  whereby 
"the  Director  and  members  of  the  Geological  Survey  shall 
have  no  personal  or  private  interests  in  the  lands  or  min- 
eral wealth  of  the  region  under  survey,  and  shall  execute 
no  surveys  or  examinations  for  private  parties  or  corpora- 
tions." This  law  may  bethought  to  restrict  somewhat  our 
activity,  yet  it  surely  adds  to  the  value  of  our  results.  In- 
creased appropriations  would  enable  us  to  meet  these  spe- 
cific needs,  although  the  assays  and  other  examinations 
made  by  the  Geological  Survey  should  be  only  for  new 
finds-,,  or  for  new  methods,  and  the  results  should  be 
promptly  published  for  the  information  and  benefit  of  the 
public,  rather  than  of  the  individual.  In  a  word,  the  work 
of  the  Survey,  geologist,  engineer,  statistician  and  chemist 
is  planned  not  to  encroach  upon  that  of  the  mining  engineer 
or  the  assay er  in  private  practice,  but  it  is  to  be  basal  in 
character,  and  of  a  nature  to  assist  these  professional  men 
as  well  as  the  prospector  and  the  mine  owner.  I  am  not 
unmindful  of  what  your  industry  has  suffered  at  the  hands 
of  the  unscrupulous,  who  masquerade  under  the  title  of  ex- 
pert, and  against  these  the  Federal  Survey  is  ready  to  join 
with  your  Mining  Congress  in  the  protection  of  both  pros- 
pector and  investor.  More  and  more  is  our  organization 
taking  upon  itself  work  of  this  kind,  which  is  always 
cate  and  often  thankless, 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  WORK  147 

It  may  be  well  to  note  that  the  Geological  Survey  is  not 
charged  Avith  the  enforcement  of  the  law,  but  is  rather  a 
bureau  of  information;  yet  as  such,  it  is  no  less  our  duty  to 
assist  in  law  enforcement,  especially  in  all  that  relates  to 
the  classification  of  the  public  lauds.  At  the  time  of  the  in- 
auguration of  the  work  of  the  Geological  Survey,  the  clas- 
sification intended  by  Congress  was  believed  to  be  general 
in  character,  and  such  as  would  be  expressed  upon  maps 
issued  for  the  general  information  of  the  people.  The  pres- 
ent interpretation  is  that  the  classification  should  be  more 
definite,  and,  therefore,  during  the  past  season  the  Survey 
has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  classification  and  valua- 
tion of  the  coal  land  of  the  public  domain.  Increased  de- 
mands are  also  being  made  upon  our  mining  geologists  for 
assistance  in  the  determination  of  the  mineral  or  non-min- 
eral character  of  land  of  which  title  from  the  government 
is  sought.  In  all  this  work  our  sole  purpose  is  to  determine 
the  truth  of  the  issue  and  thus  to  protect  the  interests  of 
the  public.  Our  purpose  is  to  assist  the  legitimate  miner 
by  opposing  his  worst  enemies,  the  land  grabber  and  the 
unscrupulous  promoter  of  wildcat  schemes,  and  in  this  we 
know  that  we  have  the  support  of  the  men  who  really  rep- 
resent the  mining  industry.  At  this  time  I  might  mention 
such  instances  as  that  of  the  Survey  report  on  Tonopah. 
The  first  report  of  Tonopah  it  furnished  was  rather  a  knock- 
out blow  to  wildcat  schemes,  and  yet  we  believe  has  worked 
for  good  to  the  benefit  of  the  industry  of  that  particular 
section. 

President  Richards  has  outlined  definite  recommenda- 
tions for  tl;e  further  extension  of  federal  work  in  aid  of  the 
industry  you  represent.  With  full  faith  in  the  trained  men 
who  constitute  its  working  corps,  I  promise,  in  behalf  of 
the  Geological  Survey,  that  our  possibilities  in  your  service 
will  be  limited  only  by  the  appropriations  which  your  rep- 
resentatives in  Congress  may  entrust  to  us.  In  the  Survey's 
effort  to  serve  the  mining  industry,  I  recognize,  then,  no  lim- 
itation beyond-  those  set  down  by  congressional  enactment, 
and  I  wrill  gladly  join  with  you  in  the  effort  to  make  such 
enactment  more  truly  fit  your  real  needs.  Under  what  fed- 
eral auspices  the  mining  work  should  be  conducted  is  not 
so  important  a  consideration,  to  my  mind,  as  that  the  work 
should  be  done  and  done  w^ell.  All  that  has  been  accom- 
plished thus  far  has  been  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey,  and  its  predecessors,  and  I  men- 
tion this  fact  as  a  token  of  how  we  have  administered  our 
trust.  Enlarge  our  appropriations  and  we  will  continue  to 


148  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

make  good  along  every  line  of  investigation  that  is  en- 
trusted to  us.  If  changes  in  organization  or  in  name  be- 
come necessary,  there  will  be  no  hesitation  in  making  such 
changes,  nor  with  co-operating  with  any  other  agency  that 
may  share  with  us  the  work.  I  repeat,  it  is  the  work  itself 
that  is  of  prime  importance. 

In  conclusion,  the  lines  along  which  1  propose  to  have 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  advance  to  a  position 
of  greater  usefulness,  in  behalf  of  the  mining  industry  of 
the  country,  are  these: 

First — The  fuller  recognition  of  its  duty  in  the  matter 
of  the  classification  of  tile  mineral  lands  of  the  public  do- 
main. 

Second — The  rapid  extension  of  systematic  field  study 
of  all  mineral  resources,  so  that  geological  exploration  may 
keep  in  'advance  of  economic  development. 

Third — The  further  development  of  the  Survey  as  a 
source  of  authoritative  and  disinterested  information  for 
the  benefit  of  the  prospector  or  the  land  owner. 

Fourth — The  broadening  and  improvement  of  the 
methods  of  collecting  mineral  statistics,  with  the  purpose  of 
securing  more  accurate  returns  and  of  expediting  their  com- 
pilation and  publication. 

Fifth — The  investigation  of  processes  relating  to  the 
mining  and  later  treatment  of  fuels,  ores,  and  other  mineral 
products,  but  only  in  so  far  as  such  investigation  may  be 
fundamental  to  the  best  utilization  of  the  nation's  mineral 
wealth. 

Sixth — The  preparation  of  reports  that  will  better  meet 
the  needs  of  the  mining  industry  and  the  distribution  of 
these  publications  more  promptly  and  -effectually. 

These  are  not  radical  departures,  as  the  Survey  is  at 
present  making  progress  along  each  of  these  lines  of  public 
service,  and  we  mean  to  continue  that  progress ;  yet  the  rate 
of  our  advance,  and  that  is  what  you  are  most  interested  in, 
will  be  largely  governed  by  the  size  of  the  appropriations, 
and  it  can  be  greatly  accelerated  by  the  more  generous  sup- 
port which  you  are  able  to  ask  for  us. 


International  Mining^Exposition,  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York 


BY  WILLIAM  M.  PORTER,  NEW  YORK. 

The  idea  of  holding  a  large  mining  exposition  as  an 
educational  measure  for  the  benefit  of  the  industry,  in  Mad- 
ison Square  Garden,  New  York,  on  internationaL  lines,  in 
which  there  will  be  hearty  co-operation  of  all  mining  inter- 
ests, has,  it  is  safe  to  say,  the  approval  of  every  member  of 
this  Congress,  and  mining  men  generally. 

In  contemplation  of  the  high  aim  to  be  attained  we 
therefore  respectfully  invite  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  all  foreign  governments,  the  mining  states  and  ter- 
ritories, the  American  Mining  Congress,  all  miners'  asso- 
ciations, the  manufacturers  and  mine  owners  to  assemble 
and  demonstrate  their  respective  mineral  and  manufac- 
tured products  at  this,  the  first  International  Mining  Expo- 
sition in  America. 

We  realized  from  the  beginning  that  in  order  to  secure 
public  confidence  and  achieve  success,  an  undertaking  of 
this  nature  and  magnitude  should  be  conducted  on  a  broad 
scope  and,  to  the  entire  exclusion  of  all  spurious  properties, 
as  well  as  the  exclusion  of  the  sale  of  mining  stocks. 

In  the  effort  to  educate  the  public  in  this  regard  it  is 
apparent  that  it  is  impossible  to  take  all  who  may  be  inter- 
ested to  where  there  are  mines  in  operation,  but  it  is  most 
feasible  to  demonstrate  the  mining  business  in  that  city 
where  there  is  the  greatest  concentration  of  population  and 
capital,  which,  of  course,  is  New  York  City. 

Experience  has  taught  us  that  the  eastern  public  will 
become  enthusiastic  and  liberally  patronize  an  exposition  if 
made  attractive  and  instructive  by  planning  it  upon  an 
elaborate  scale  and  by  presenting  something  new;  there- 
fore, as  the  possibilities  are  unlimited  in  this  industry  their 
every  desire  can  be  highly  gratified.  To  this  end  we  wish 
to  illustrate  in  a  practical  manner  every  phase  of  mining, 
mine  construction,  mine  operation — both  lode  and  placer 
—in  the  latter  the  use  of  the  pan,  cradle,  dredge, 
giants  and  sluices;  also  reduction  of  ores,  metal  ex- 
traction by  various  processes — in  short,  mining  methods 
throughout.  This,  we  wish  to  accomplish  by  the  oper- 
ation of  machinery  as  far  as  possible.  There  is  no 
mechanical  exhibit  so  attractive  to  the  public  as  an 
active  one.  A  silent  machine  does  not  teach  anything,  and 


150  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

is,  therefore,  most  uninteresting.  We  have  decided  to  make 
all  exhibits  throughout  this  exposition  active  \vliere  pos- 
sible. 

In  mineral  exhibits  a  similar  idea  will  prevail.  There 
is  not  a  more  unattractive  display  to  the  novice  than  min- 
eral with  its  techncal  title  on  printed  label,  but  when  the 
same  is  placed  under  a  magnifying  glass  and  its  component 
parts  clearly  explained,  then  information  is  imparted  which 
makes  a  lasting  impression.  A  mineral  exhibit  without 
demonstration  does  not  appeal  to  the  public.  Many  stairs 
that  will  have  exhibits  have  mining  schools  that  should  be 
willing  to  send  some  of  their  advanced  pupils  to  instruct 
the  public  pertaining  to  the  mineral. 

Mine  owners  in  showing  the  product  of  their  property 
will  naturally  be  expected  to  have  an  engineer  to  answer  all 
inquiries.  Their  object  will  be  to  interest  investors,  which 
they  can  more  easily  accomplish  by  displaying  a  certificate 
from  the  State  Geologist  or  other  officer,  setting  forth  that 
the  property  as  exhibited  is  bona  tide;  also  give  assay  value 
of  the  ore  of  the  same.  This  will  prove  to  be  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  their  exhibit,  and  will  be  necessary  in  pro- 
curing space,  as  it.  is  due  this  industry  and  the  public  that 
we  insist  on  compliance  with  this  measure,  and  we  expect  a 
most  hearty  co-operation  from  all  sources.  We  have  classi- 
fied the  exhibits  in  seven  different  departments  to  establish 
system  and  avoid  confusion,  and  they  must  be  assigned  to 
their  proper  departments  only,  which  are  as  follows: 

No.  1. — Department  of  Machinery. 

No.  2. — Department  of  United  States  (iovernment  and 
Foreign  Countries. 

-No.  3. — Department  of  State  Exhibits. 

No.  4. — Department  of  Metal  Mining. 

No.  5. — Department  of  Miscellaneous  Mineral. 

No.  6. — Department  of  Mining  Camps  of  Different 
Nations. 

No.  7. — -Department  of  Precious  Stones,  Mineral  Jew- 
elry, Lapidary  Work,  Etc. 

The  last  named  will  be  very  interesting,  as  it  embodies 
the  cutting  and  polishing  of  diamonds  and  other  gems. 

The  mining  camps  of  different  nations,  showing  the  ex- 
traction of  metal  in  their  crude  ways,  also  their  novel  mode 
of  transporting  ore,  can  be  made  a  feature  of  the  exposition. 
This  could  include  a  prospector's  camp,  burro  and  grub- 
stake outfit.  We  are  asking  each  foreign  country  to  include 
a  mining  camp  as  a  part  of  its  exhibit.  A  commodious  hall 
will  be  utilized  for  the  accommodation  of  this  department. 


INTERNATIONAL    MINING    EXPOSITION  151 

Plans  are  well  formulated  for  securing  a  United  States 
Government  exhibit,  which,  if  successful,  will  influence 
many  foreign  countries  to  participate,  as  well  as  western 
states  and  territories. 

A  great  deal  of  attention  is  being  given  to  the  miners- 
rock  drilling  contest,  as  it  accords  with  our  idea  of  practical 
demonstration.  We  believe  it  will  be  successful  to  that  end, 
and  novel  and  attractive  in  the  extreme  to  eastern  peo- 
ple. Liberal  cash  prizes  will  be  offered  to  the  best 
teams  having  records  to  induce  them  to  enter  these 
contests,  and  we  desire  to  get  in  communication  with  such. 

We  are  very  desirous  of  securing  an  assayer's  labora- 
tory. This  could  be  supplied  by  a  school  of  mines  of  some 
state,  and  would  make  a  good  exhibit. 

It  is  our  earnest  endeavor  to  have  a  representation  of 
a  complete  mine  installed,  the  same  to  be  in  operation. 
The  facilities  in  the  Garden  can  be  easily  adapted  to  this 
purpose  by  constructing  a  wooden  shaft  from  the  top  gal- 
lery to  the  main  floor,  a  distance  of  about  seventy  feet,  and 
a  tunnel  leading  from  the  bottom  of  the  shaft  down  the  in- 
cline to  the  basement,  where  a  drill  could  be  in  operation. 
Several  different  levels  could  be  shown  in  this  shaft,  and  a 
cage  could  be  operated  by  an  electric  motor.  Such  a  dem- 
onstration, it  is  apparent  to  all  mining  men,  would  be  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  this  industry,  and  one  of  the 
strongest  educational  features  that  could  be  presented  to 
the  public. 

We  would  consider  it  a  A^ery  great  favor  to  have  dona- 
tions of  rock  for  the  drilling  contests,  also  of  ore  for  demon- 
strating the  machinery.  We  have  accommodations  for  han- 
dling large  quantities  of  it,  which  will  be  necessary,  con- 
sidering the  four  weeks'  duration  of  the  exposition.  We, 
of  course,  will  pay  freight. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  wall  space  in  the  Garden, 
which  could  be  utilized  to  good  advantage  to  show  scenic 
paintings  of  different  mining  sections  throughout  the  West. 
We  will  donate  the  space,  but  the  district  using  it  must 
stand  the  expense  of  procuring  the  painting. 

While  we  have  the  largest  and  most  complete  facilities 
for  holding  this  exposition  to  be  obtained  in  America,  it 
should  be  understood  that  we  are  striving  to  place  the  min- 
ing industry  of  the  world  in  one  building,  and  that  neces- 
sarily there  are  many  applicants  for  each  space.  This  ex- 
position will  cost  thousands  of  dollars.  We  are  not  seeking 
assistance  in  bearing  this  expense,  other  than  general  co- 
operation with  us.  There  is  not  a  mining  state  which  can- 


152  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

not  afford  an  exhibit  here,  for  it  would  be  most  inexpensive, 
greatly  beneficial  and  well  worth  the  effort. 

Now,  good  people  of  this  wonderfully  promising  indus- 
try, the  time  and  tide  have  turned;  the  opportunity  is  at 
hand.  Let  us  take  advantage  of  it  and  unite  in  this  great 
effort  and  clearly  and  practically  demonstrate  that  mining 
is  a  business  by  business  men  and  not  a  gamble  by  gam- 
blers. 


The  Protection  of  Mineral  Lands  From  Agricultural,  Timber  Entry,  or 

Other   Patent 


BY   LEAVfS     K.     AITIT'RY,    SAN    FRANCISCO,     CALIFORNIA. 

As  our  Western  country  develops,  it  is  a  source  of  con- 
siderable comment  among  mining  men  that  our  supposed 
mineral  area  is  noticeably  decreasing,  principally  within 
the  past  few  years.  The  prospector  of  today  often  finds  his 
way  barred  by  a  barbed  wire  fence,  and  he  frequently  ob- 
serves that  the  latter  encloses  undoubted  mineral  terri- 
tory, and  which,  it  may  be  found,  is  being  held  without  re- 
gard for  tlie  present  laws,  or  the  rights  of  the  miner. 

The  rush  for  land  among  all  classes  has  placed  the 
pioneer  miner  in  such  a  position  that  it  is  imperative  on  his 
part  to  at  once  place  himself  on  the  defensive,  as  against  the 
agricultural  entrymen,  the  timber  grabber,  the  homesteader 
and  the  stockmen  and  scripper. 

The  land  laws  of  our  country  are  either  a  farce  or  the 
enforcement  of  them  so  feeble  that  the  miner  always  re- 
ceives the  worst  end  of  the  deal.  The  cards  are  stacked 
against  him,  and  unless  he  bestirs  himself,  and  seeks  other 
enactments  than  our  present  land  laws  in  the  near  future, 
it  will  be  too  late  for  him  to  secure  recognition  of  his  rights, 
I  believe  it  wras  the  original  intention  of  our  law  makers 
that  in  order  to  develop  our  western  country,  which  at  that 
time  was  supposedly  rich  in  mineral,  to  so  frame  the  laws 
that  every  encouragement  would  be  extended  to  the  miner. 
How  well  these  laws  have  been  carried  out  is  evidenced  by 
the  millions  of  acres  of  mineral  land  which  have  found  their 
way  into  the  hands  of  a  comparatively  few  individuals  and 
corporations,  who  now  hold  the  land  for  other  uses.  This 
fraudulent  acquirement  has  been  participated  in  by  some  of 
the  most  prominent  men  in  the  country,  and  some  of  whom 
are  honored  by  seats  in  Congress.  The  story  of  the  rotten- 
ness and  corruption  in  the  means  of  acquiring  these  lands  is 
too  lengthy  for  submission.  Like  Hamlet,  I  might  "a  tale 
unfold,"  but  in  the  telling  of  it,  the  entire  time  of  this  con- 
vention and  more  would  be  consumed.  You  have  all  been 
informed  many  times,  I  suppose,  of  the  methods  which  have 
prevailed  in  the  theft  of  our  mineral  lands,  and  I  will  not 
burden  you  with  the  repetition  of  the  story.  To  many,  how- 
ever, the  methods  employed  by  the  timber  thieves  would 
not  be  more  wonderful  than  was  Kelly's  impression  at  his 
first  sight  of  Niagara. 


154  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

He  wa,s  looking'  at  the  Horseshoe  Falls  when  liis  friend 
(VHara  said:  "Ain't  that  wondherful,  Kelly?" 

"What's;  wondherfnl?"  says  Kelly. 

"Why  man,  to  see  all  that  wather  come  thunderin1  over 
thini  rocks,"  said  O'Hara. 

"I  don't  see  as  it's  wondherfnl,"  says  Kelly.  "What, 
the  hell  is  there  to  hindher  it  from  coming  over?" 

Now  what  is  there  to  hinder  the  land  grabber  from  ac- 
quiring numberless  thousands  of  acres  of  our  mineral  lands 
which  have  as  yet  been  left  untouched.  Shall  we  attempt 
to  assert  ourselves,  and  ask  Congress  to  protect  us?  I  be- 
lieve-that we  should,  and  I  further  believe1  that  a  solution 
of  the.  difficulty  will  be  found  in  the  enactment  of  laws 
which  have  been  in  force  for  many  years  in  our  sister  Re- 
public, of  Mexico,  and  which  have  proven  effective  in  the 
protection  of  mineral  lands. 

The  substance  of  the  proposed  law  is  that  on  all  United 
States  land  patents  which  may  be  issued  by  the  President, 
on  lands  classified  as  other  than  mineral,  that  the  Govern- 
ment shall  reserve  the  mineral  rights,  and  after  complying 
with  the  necessary  requirements,  a  separate  patent  for  ihc 
mineral  rights  shall  be  issued  to  the  miner. 

From  much  personal  observation,  I  believe  that  such 
a.  law  would  be  just  to  ail  parties  concerned,  and  would  not 
only  meet  with  general  approval,  but  would  settle  a  vexed 
question. 


The  Who  Man  Stakes  Claims  Everywhere:      Does  He  Assist  or  Retard  the 
Development  of  the  Mining  Industry? 


BY    RANDALL    H.    KEMP,    SPOKANE,    WASHINGTON. 

This  is  a  question  that  can  be  viewed  from  two  stand- 
points. Put  in  different  language,  does  the  man  who  gob- 
bles up  an  entire  district  and  endeavors  to  appropriate  the 
whole  country  benefit  that  section  or  is  he  a  detriment? 
In  my  experience  of  a  little  over  one-third  of  a  century,  cov- 
ering a  great  portion  of  the  country  from  Colorado  to 
Alaska,  and  always  being  identified  with  the  industry  of 
mining,  it  could  not  be  otherwise  than  that  I  would  take 
some  note  of  the  matters  which  come  under  this  head.  In 
this  connection  I  wish  to  state  that  the  wholesale  patenting 
of  both  quartz  and  placer  claims  in  many  instances  is  also  a 
detriment  to  the  mining  industry,  and  if  I  am  allowed,  I 
shall  dwell  on  this  evil  before  I  have  finished. 

By  way  of  preface,  permit  me  to  pay  a  slight  tribute 
to  our  American  prospector.  It  is  to  this  optomistic  person- 
age that  we  owe  our  greatest  debt  today.  The  prospector, 
with  the  radiant  eyes  of  faith  ventured  into  the  unknown 
wilds  of  the  boundless  west  and  while  undergoing  the  great- 
est of  privations  and  braving  all  the  dangers  that  could 
beset  an  individual  or  class  of  persons,  proved  to  the  world 
that  metals,  both  precious  and  base,  were  in  evidence  in-  pay- 
ing quantities.  Following  the  prospector  came  the  hus- 
bandman, the  merchant,  manufacturer,  artizan  and  the 
hundreds  of  others  who  live  and  thrive  in  new  sections  of 
our  country,  and  I  may  add,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  that 
were  it  not  for  the  prospector  we  would  not  be  here  at  this 
time. 

Only  in  rare  instances,  as  far  as  my  knowledge  goes, 
did  the  pioneer  prospector  become  so  greedy  that  he  endeav- 
ored to  corral  everything  that  was  in  sight  to  the  detriment 
of  those  who  came  later  and  wished  for  a  share  in  nature's 
gifts.  The  exception,  the  man  who  staked  everywhere,  was 
a  detriment  to  the  country  and  a  drawback  to  progress. 

Several  instances  I  can  cite  that  have  come  under  my 
observation.  When  the  placer  fields  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
were  found  in  the  fall  of  1873,  a  horde  of  agricultural  people 
from  a  nearby  section  swarmed  into  the  country  and 
planted  their  stakes  all  over  the  country.  Hundreds  of 
claims  were  located  by  virtue  of  power  of  attorney.  These 
claims  .were  twenty  acres  in  extent,  and  when  it  came  to 


15G  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

voting  at  miners'  meetings,  these  farmer-minors  were  in 
the  majority,  and  to  this  day  the  full  merits  of  the  placers 
of  the  North  side  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  are  practically  un- 
known. This  would  not  be  the  case  were  the  ownership 
more  evenly  divided  and  the  claims  had  been  smaller,  which 
would  have  caused  them  to  be  more  easily  developed,  as 
every  experienced  person  knows. 

During  my  sojourn  in  British  Columbia,  the  evil  of  one 
man  acquiring  so  much  mineral  land  became  such  a  nui- 
sance that  the  associated  Boards  of  Trade  took  the  matter 
up  and  memorialized  the  Provincial  Parliament  to  enact 
laws  to  overcome  this  drawback  to  the  country's  advance- 
ment. One  of  the  members  of  this  organization  informed 
me  that  he  knew  of  one  man  who  had  sixty  claims  staked 
in  one  district  and  practically  kept  out  every  one  else. 

In  Alaska,  also,  I  have  seen  the  disadvantages  of  this 
system.  I  knew  of  one  prospector  who  covered  two  huge 
mountains  with  locations  and  when  another  prospector 
would  wander  into  that  district  he  would  be  shown  a  map 
of  the  first  party's  holdings  and  be  warned  to  keep  away. 
In  Idaho,  I  understand,  that  the  entire  Seven  Devils 
country  was  located  and  patented  by  a  Helena,  Montana, 
association  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and  it  is 
well  known  that  that  region  so  prolific  in  copper  values  has 
been  dormant  ever  since. 

Doubtless  there  is  no  one  within  sound  of  my  voice,  who 
has  had  experience  in  the  field,  but  knows  of  numerous, 
similar  instances  of  where  thermining  industry  has  been 
retarded  and  the  country7  held  back  as  outlined  above. 

As  a  rule  the  prospector  is  of  a  generous  nature;  when 
he  dives  into  the  wilderness  and  makes  a  notable  find,  he 
is  willing  to  share  with  those  who  come  later.  In  fact  he 
welcomes  the  crowd  as  he  is  aware  that  in  numbers  there 
is  strength,  and  the  more  that  become  located  around  him 
the  sooner  his  holdings  will  have  a  value.  Besides  this  the 
others  aid  in  constructing  trails,  roads  and  other  improve- 
ments which  tend  to  make  all  property  more  valuable.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  man  who  desires  to  hog  the  whole  coun- 
try and  gives  every  one  to  understand  that  their  room  is 
better  than  their  company,  rarely,  if  ever,  accomplishes 
anything  and  in  the  end  they  often  lie  down  in  paupers' 
graves  all  on  account  of  the  desire  to  keep  everything  to 
themeslves. 

Not  only  does  the  man  who  stakes  everywhere  become 
a  detriment  to  the  mining  industry,  but  so  is  the  man  who 
shingles  the  country  with  patents  covering  both  quartz  and 
placer  mines  as  well.  To  prove  this  assertion  I  will  cite 


THE    MAN   WHO    STAKES    CLAIMS    EVERYWHERE  157 

one  instance  that  came  under  my  observation  while  resid- 
ing in  Montana.  An  old  prospector  ventured  into  an  aban- 
doned district  that  many  years  before  had  been  quite  a  pro- 
ducer of  placer  gold.  The  shallow  diggings  which  could 
only  be  worked  profitably  in  the  early  days  had  become  ex- 
hausted and  the  hundreds  of  miners  became  scattered  far 
and  wide.  This  prospector  in  his  search  for  the  yellow 
metal  chanced  on  some  ground  that  had  been  overlooked  in 
the  days  gone  by  that  would  pay  well  to  work  by  primitive 
methods.  To  thoroughly  test  the  ground,  he  packed  to  the 
nearest  stream  a  quantity  of  the  gravel  on  his  ca.yuse  and 
ascertained  that  he  had  made  quite  a  strike.  He  then 
laboriously  constructed  a  ditch  to  bring  water  to  the  claim, 
whipsawed  lumber  and  was  in  readiness  to  reap  the  reward 
of  his  labor.  When  lo,  and  behold,  along  comes  a  Helena 
merchant  who  coolly  informs  him  that  he  had  obtained  a 
patent  to  160  acres  there  a  number  of  years  before,  and  ye 
old  prospector  could  get  off.  It  is  well  to  add  to  this  inci- 
dent that  all  monuments  were  obliterated  and  the  old  pros- 
pector could  find  no  evidence  that  he  was  encroaching  on 
another  person's  rights. 

To  my  mind  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  man  who 
stakes  claims  everywhere,  and  the  man  who  plasters  the 
country  with  patents  should  be  classed  as  following  the 
dog  in  the  manger  policy  according  to  the  ancient  fable, 
•and  I  would  strongly  urge  that  this  Congress  use  every  hon- 
est endeavor  to  have,  if  not  stronger  laws  enacted,  to  rec- 
ommend that 'those  already  on  our  statute  books  be  more 
rigidly  enforced. 


Sliding  Scale  Royalty 

BY    LOUIS    D.     HUNTOON,    NEW    HAVEN,    CONNECTICUT. 

In  visiting  a  district  for  the  first  time,  tlie  attention  of 
the  mining  engineer  is  always  directed  to  the  methods  of 
mining  and  milling  which  have  been  developed  in  the  dis- 
trict for  the  class  of  ore  it  contains,  and  especially  so  if  the 
methods  are  not  in  use  elsewhere. 

The  lead-zinc  deposits  of  Sou ih western  Missouri  pre- 
sent many  interesting  features.  The  leasing  and  sub-leas- 
ing of  lands  on  a  flat  royalty  is  the  special  feature  with 
f  which  this  paper  is  concerned. 

The  prerequisite  of  mining  and  milling  in  a  district  is 
securing  the  land  and  mineral  rights.  In  Southwest  Mis- 
souri this  is  accomplished  by  buying  outright  for  leasing. 
The  leases  are  of  three  kinds:  Leasing  for  development 
only;  leasing  for  development  and  mining,  and  sub-leasing. 

In  the  first  class,  leasing  for  development  only,  the 
lessor  guarantees  to  do  more  or  less  work  testing  the  prop- 
erty with  drill  holes,  and  possibly,  the  sinking  of  a  shaft. 
At  the  completion  of  this  work  the  lessor  generally  sells 
or  sub-leases. 

The  second  class,  leasing  for  development  and  mining, 
the  lessor  agrees  to  test  and  develop  the  property  and  then 
mine  and  mill  the  ore.  The  lessor  .pays  a  royalty  on  the 
gross  returns  of  from  ten  to  twenty  per  cent.,  but  guaran- 
tees no  minimum  royalty. 

In  sub-leasing,  the  sub-lessor  guarantees  to  operate  the 
property  and  pays  to  the  first  lessor,  five  per  cent,  or  ten  per 
cent,  more  royalty  than  the  original  lease  calls  for.  The 
drilling  of  a  few  holes  costs  the  first  lessor  about  $500,  and, 
if  he  can  then  sub-lease  without  further  expenditure,  he 
is  quite  certain  of  very  lucrative  returns  on  his  investment. 
The  cost  of  sinking  a  shaft  is  about  $2,000  to  $3,000.  With 
this  additional  cost  it  is  only  necessary  for  the  sub-lessor 
to  ship  about  $30,000  of  concentrates  to  pay  all  costs  of  the 
first  lessor.  After  this  shipment  the  royalties  paid  the  les- 
sor on  gross  returns  or  profits,  make  an  original  lease  very 
valuable,  providing  the  property  is  operated. 

This  places  upon  the  property  ;i  very  heavy  burden  to 
carry  and  prevents  the  working  of  the  lower  grade1  of  ores. 
These  ores  are  lost  to  the  market  and  the  royalties  are  lost 
to  the  land  owner.  If  the  mill  operates  at  a  loss  the  first 
lessor  and  the  land  owner  continue  to  receive  their  income, 
increasing  the  loss  to  the  operator. 


SLIDING  SCALE  ROYALTY  159 

The  above  forms  of  least*  are  liable  to,  and  do  in  some 
cases  to  my  knowledge,  work  an  injustice  to  all  parties  and 
to  the  district  as  a  whole.  The  land  owner  is  guaranteed  the 
prospecting  and  continued  working  of  the  property,  but  no 
minimum  royalty.  He  is  assured  of  no  definite  return  from 
his  land.  His  land  can,  under  these  conditions,  be  held  for 
a  long  period  at  a  nominal  expense  to  the  lessor.  The  oper- 
ating lessor  in  turn  is  not  protected  when  the  grade  of  dirt 
is  low,  or  the  selling  price  of  concentrates  is  low.  When 
gross  returns  on  concentrates  just  equals  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction, the  operating  lessor  must  draw  on  his  reserve  cap- 
ital to  pay  royalty.  The  custom  of  the  camp,  I  understand,' 
is  for  the  company  operating  to  hold  little  or  no  reserve  in 
the  treasury  for  amortization  or  the  securing  of  new  lands, 
all  surplus  earnings  being  paid  as  weekly  or  monthly  divi- 
dends. This  failure  to  keep  the  capital  of  the  company 
intact,  and  a  fiat  royalty  on  gross  returns,  also  has  a 
tendency  to  work  a  hardship  to  the  company  and  the  dis- 
trict as  a  whole,  especially  so  when  the  ore  is  of  a  low  grade. 
Mines  and  mills  must  close  down  when  working  on  a  los- 
ing basis  with  no  money  in  the  treasury.  If  these  mines  and 
mills  were  relieved  from  royalty  on  this  low-grade  ore,  they 
could  afford  to  prospect  and  in  all  probability  Avould  en- 
counter rich  ore  bodies  and  again  pay  good  royalties.  The 
land  owner,  the  company  and  the  district  as  a  whole,  will 
be  enriched  by  the  mining  of  this  second  ore  body. 

Interesting  figures  are  developed  when  the  present 
royalty  system  is  carefully  investigated.  When  the  dirt 
is  low  grade,  or  the  price  of  concentrates  is  low,  the  greater 
part,  if  not  all  of  the  net  earnings,  or  more,  is  paid  to  the 
land  owner.  When  the  mine  is  working  high  grade  ore  and 
making  large  net  earnings,  only  a  small  percentage  of  the 
net  earnings  is  paid  to  the  land  owner.  These  conditions 
are  illustrated  in  Table  I.,  the  first  line  showing  a  loss  to 
the  operator,  usually  resulting  in  abandoning  of  the  prop- 
erty. In  Table  V.,  the  same  grade  of  dirt  shows  a  net  in- 
come to  both  operator  and  land  owner.  Table  II.  shows  the 
cash  distributions  of  net  earnings  with  varying  recoveries 
and  varying  selling  prices.  Table  III.  shows  the  percentage 
distribution  of  net  earnings.  Comparing  Tables  I.,  II.,  and 
III.,  we  find  in  Table  I.  that  dirt  giving  a  recovery  of  four 
per  cent.,  with  concentrates  at  f  40,  is  worked  at  net  earn- 
ings of  ten  cents  per  ton  of  dirt.  The  royalty  on  this  is  six- 
teen cents  per  ton,  leaving  a  net  income  loss  to  the  operator 
of  six  cents  per  ton.  Conditions  like  this  prevent  explora- 
tion and  further  profits  to  both  land  owner  and  lessees. 


PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 


Recovery 
%         Tons 

Gross 
Earnings 

Cost 
Mn.  Mill 

TABLE   1 
Net 
Earnings 

Royalty 

10% 

Net 
Income 

%of  Net  Earn's 
Koyalty  Opet'r 

$60 

60% 

4 

40 

$1,600 

$1.500 

$     100 

$160 

loss 

loss 

5 

50 

2,000 

1,500 

500 

200 

300 

40% 

Mr; 

7% 

75 

3,000 

1,500 

1,500 

300 

l.L'OII 

20% 

80% 

10 

100 

4,000 

1,500 

2,500 

400 

2,100 

16% 

84. 

15 

150 

6,000 

1,500 

4,500 

600 

3,900 

13.3% 

cS  6  .  7 

20 

200 

'   8,000 

1,500 

6,500 

goo 

5,700 

12.3% 

S7.7 

per 

02 


Distributions   of   net   earnings   on   1,000    tons  of 
ton.     Mining  and  Milling  at  $1.50. 


dirt  ;    concent  rates   at    $40 


TABLE  II. 
Recovery. 

—  7^%  ,  ,  10%  N 
R.           O.          R.           0. 

$300    $1,200    $400    $2,100 
375      1,875      500      3,000 
470      2,730      600      3,900 

,  15%  x 
R.           0. 

$600    $3,900 
750      5,250 
90.0      6,600 

,  ^20%  , 
R.            0. 

$     800    $5,700 
1,000      7,500 
1,200      i),300 

•*     i 4% ,  . 

R.        O.        R. 

$60 

$40  $160  loss  $200  $  300 
50  200  300  250  750 
60  240  660  300  1,200 

Cash  distribution  of  net  earnings  on  1,000  tons  of  dirt.  Royalty  10%. 
Selling  price  of  concentrates  varying  from  $40  to  $60.  R-Royalty,  O-Opera- 
tors  net  income. 

M£,  TABLE  III. 

NfS  Recovery. 


O. 


J.5 

Percentage  distribution  of  net  earnings  on  1,000  tons  of  dirt.  Royalty 
10%.  Selling  price  of  concentrates  varying  from  $40  to  $60.  R-Royalty 
O-Operators  net  income. 


$40 
50 
60 

R 

40% 
26.7 

4%  , 
O. 
60% 
loss 
60% 
73.3 

/  5%  , 
R.          0. 

40%       60% 
25          75 
20          80 

,  7ix 

20 
16.6 
14.6 

80 
83.4 
85.4 

,  10%  ,  , 
R.          O. 

16          84 
14.3       85.7 
13.3       86.7 

15%  
R.          O. 

13.3       86, 
12.5       87, 
12.0       88 

locn-o  J 

,  2( 
R. 

12.5 
11.7 
11.5 

TABLE  IV. 


£       Royalty  in  dollars  payable  per  ton  with  concentrates  selling  at  or  above 

D,                        $80.00              $70.00  $60.00  $50.00  $40.00  $30.  Off 

20                       24.00                21.00  18.00  15.00  12.00  9.00 

19                       22.73                19.83  17.00  14.11  11.29  8.40 

18                      21.47                18.66  16.00  13.24  10.59  7.80 

17                      20.21                17.50  15.00  12.35  9.88  7.20 

16                       18.94                16.33  14.00  11.47  9.18  6.60 

15                      17.68                15.16  13.00  10.59  8.47  6.00 

14                       16.42                14.00  12.00  9.71  7.76  5.40 

13                      15.15                12.83  11.00  8.82  7.06  4.80 

1ST-                    13.89                11.66  10.00  7.94  6.35  4.20 

11                      12.63                10.50  9.00  7.06  5.65  3.60 

10                      11.36                   9.33  8.00  6.18  4.94      10%      3.00 

9                       10.10                   8.16  7.00  10.5%      5.29      10.6%      4.24  2.40 

8         11%         8.84      10%      7.00  10%      6.00  4.41  3.53  1.80 

7        9.4%        7.57                   5.83  5.00  3.53            .           2.82  1.20 

6                         6.31                   4.66  4.00  2.65  2.12  .60 

5                         5.05                   3.50  3.00  1.76  1.41  .00 

4                         3.78                   2.33  2.00  .88  .71 

3                         2.52                   1.16  1.00  -     .00  .00 

2                         1.26                     .00  .00 

1  .00 

Royalty   on   sliding  basis  dependent-  on   per   cent,    of   mineral   recovered 
and  price  at  which  concentrates  sell. 

Maximum  royalty  to  be  30%  for  20%  recovery. 

The  zero  royalty  is  where  the  cost  of  operating  equals  the  selling  price 
of  concentrates. 


Tons 
Dirt 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000' 
1,000 
6,000 


-Concentrates  at  $40 ^ 


-Recovery- 


TABLE  V. 

, — Present  System-^ 
Royalty     Operators 


10% 

$    160 

200 

.300 

400 

600 

800 

52,460 


net  income 
loss  $60 
300 
1,200 
2,100 
3,900 
5,700 
$13,140 


f System  Suggested- 

Sliding  Operators 

Royalty 

'28.40 

70.50 

211.50 

494.00 

1.270.50 


2,400.00 
$4,474.90 


Comparison  of  present  Royalty  system  with  sliding  Scale  Royalty. 


net  income 
71.60 
429.50 
1,288.50 
2,006.00 
3,229.50 
4,100.00 
$11,125.10 


SLIDING  SCALE  ROYALTY  161 

We  also  find  iu  Table  I.  that  dirt  giving  a  recovery  of 
five  per  cent.,  with  concentrates  at  $40,  is  worked  at  net 
earnings  of  fifty  cents  per  ton.  The  royalty  on  this  is  forty 
per  cent,  of  the  net  earnings,  leaving  the  operator  a  net  in- 
come of  thirty  cents,  which  is  less  than  sufficient  to  pay  off 
the  original  investment  to  the  stockholders. 

Further  consideration  of  Table  I.  shows  that  dirt  giving 
a  recovery  of  fifteen  per  cent.,  with  concentrates  at  $40,  is 
worked  at  net  earnings  of  $4.50  per  ton  of  dirt.  The  royalty 
here  is  only  thirteen  per  cent,  of  the  net  earnings,  or  sixty 
cents  per  ton,  while  the  operator's  net  income  is  86.7  per 
cent,  of  the  net  earnings,  or  $3.90  per  ton.  The  operator 
here  can  well  afford  to  pay  a  much  higher  royalty,  if  the 
royalty  with  the  lower  grades  is  reduced. 

By  placing  the  royalty  on  a  sliding  scale  as  shown  in 
Table  IV.,  dependent  upon  the  recovery  and  the  selling- 
price  of  concentrates  and  with  a  guaranteed  minimum  roy- 
alty to  the  land  owner,  a  more  equal  distribution  of  net 
earnings  will  be  made ;  the  investor  will  run  less  risk  in  the 
return  of  capital  invested;  the  lessor  will  receive  greater 
royalties  than  at  present  with  high  grade  dirt;  and  the  en- 
tire district  will  be  benefited  by  it  being  made  possible  to 
work  these  low  grade  ores,  with  the  probability  of  encoun- 
tering more  high  grade  deposit. 

The  sliding  royalty  scale,  given  in  Table  No.  IV,  has 
been  worked  out  by  the  plotting  of  a  cost  curve  dependent 
upon  the  recovery  and  selling. price  of  concentrates.  No 
royalty  is  allowed  other  than  the  yearly  minimum,  on  the 
sale  of  concentrates,  when  the  cost  of  production  equals  the 
gross  earnings.  The  royalty  increases  regularly  until  it 
reaches  a  maximum  of  thirty  per  cent,  on  gross  earnings 
for  twenty  per  cent,  recovery. 

Table  No.  5  is  a  comparison  of  the  two  systems  with 
concentrates  at  $40  per  ton,  showing  the  more  equal  dis- 
tribution of  profits.  In  this  Table,  it  will  be  noted  that  un- 
der the  present  system,  with  concentrates  at  $40  per  ton, 
and  dirt  giving  a  recovery  of  four  per  cent,  to  twenty  per 
cent.,  the  average, royalty  is  forty-one  cents  per  ton  of  dirt. 
In  the  system  suggested,  the  average  royalty  is  seventy - 
lour  and  one-half  cents  per  ton  of  dirt. 

The  placing  of  the  royalty  on  a  sliding  scale,  dependent 
upon  the  selling  price  of  concentrates  and  the  percentage 
recovered  from  the  dirt,  I  consider  equitable  to  both  parties 
and  the  district  as  a  whole.  The  sliding  scale  royalties 
given  in  Tables  IV.  and  V.  were  computed  with  mining 
and  milling  costs  at  $1.50  per  ton  of  dirt. 


Mining  Engineering  Education  in  the  United  States 


BY  VICTOR  C.  ALDERSON,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  COLORADO  SCHOOL 

OF  MINES. 

The  Present  Status. 

Less  than  five  years  ago  a  celebrated  Professor  of  Min- 
ing Engineering,  in  one  of  the  famous  mining  schools  of  this 
country,  said  to  the  writer  that  all  the  forms  of  engineer- 
ing education  in  the  United  States,  mining  engineering  was 
the  least  progressive;  that,  while  instruction  in  mechanical, 
electrical,  and  civil  engineering  was  advancing  rapidly, 
through  advanced  methods  of  instruction  and  well  equipped 
laboratories  all  over  the  country,  and  new  courses  were 
being  introduced  like  chemical,  telephone,  and  fire  protec- 
tion engineering,  mining  engineering  was  lagging  behind; 
that,  while  great  private  schools,  like  Columbia,  Harvard 
and  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  were  flourish- 
ing, and  while  the  state  mining  schools  of  Minnesota,  Mich- 
igan, Colorado,  Missouri  and  California  were  doing  excel- 
lent work,  yet  in  many  states  no  effort  whatever  was  made 
to  provide  instruction  in  mining,  in  many  others  there  was 
only  a  half-hearted  attempt,  and,  on  the  whole,  mining 
education  was  below  the  standard  set  by  other  kinds  of 
engineering  education. 

A  glance  at  the  facts  will  help  us  to  analyze  the  case. 
Departments  of  mining  are  now  in  operation  at  the  follow- 
ing private  institutions: 

Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Columbia  University,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Yale  University,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Lehigh  University,  South  Bethlehem,  Pa. 

Case  School  of  Applied  Science,  Cleveland.  Ohio. 

Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa. 

Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  111. 

Departments  of  mining  are  in  operation  at  the  follow- 
ing institutions  under  state  control: 

Alabama  Polytechnic  Institute,  Auburn,  Ala. 

West  Virginia  University,  Morgantown,  W.  Va. 

Georgia  School  of  Technology,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Ohio  State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

University  of  Maine,  Orono,  Me. 

Washington  Agricultural  College  and  Schoo-  of 
Science,  Pullman,  Wash. 


MINING  ENGINEERING  EDUCATION  163 

University  of     Oregon,  Eugene,  Ore. 

University  of  California,  Berkeley,  .Calif. 

University  of  Nevada,  Reno,  Nev. 

University  of  Utah,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

University  of  Wyoming,  Laramie,  Wyo. 

University  of  Texas,  Austin,  Texas. 

University  of  Minnesota,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

University  of  Washington,  Seattle,  W^ash. 

State  College  of  Kentucky,  Lexington,  Ky. 

University  of  North  Carolina,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

University  of  Virginia,  Charlottesville,  Va. 

University  of  Alabama,  University,  Ala. 

University  of  Arkansas,  Fayetteville,  Ark. 

University  of  Iowa,  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 

State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  Ames, 
Iowa. 

University  of  North  Dakota,  Grand  Forks,  N.  D. 

University  of  Kansas,  Lawrence,  Kas. 

University  of  Oklahoma,  Norman,  Okla. 

University  of  Idaho,  Moscow,  Idaho. 

University  of  Tennessee,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

University  of  Arizona,  Tucson,  Ariz. 

Pennsylvania  State  College,  State  College,  Pa. 

University  of  Nebraska,  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Allegheny,  Pa. 

Separate  schools  of  mining  are  maintained  as  follows: 

New  Mexico  School  of  Mines,  Socorro,  N.  M. 

South  Dakota  School  of  Mines,  Rapid  City,  S.  D. 

Colorado  School  of  Mines,  Golden,  Colo. 

Montana  School  of  Mines,  Butte,  Mont. 

Missouri  School  of  Mines,  Rolla,  Mo. 

Michigan  School  of  Mines,  Houghton,  Mich. 

Secondary  Technical  School  for  Practical  Miners, 
Platteville,  W7is. 

In  the  following  states  there  is  no  attempt,  as  far  as 
the  writer  knows,  to  teach  mining  or  metallurgy:  Louisi- 
ana, Mississippi,  Indiana,  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Rhode 
Island,  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  Delaware,  Maryland  an<l 
New  Jersey. 

TLo  list  of  places  where  a  mining  education  may  be 
obtained,  seems  formidable,  but  on  closer  inspection  it  will 
be  found  that  the  number  of  first  class  mining  schools, 
whether  as  separate  institutions  or  as  departments  of  a 
university,  is  lamentably  small.  They  can  be  counted  on 
one's  thumbs  and  fingers  with  some  fingers  to  spare.  Many 
of  the  institutions  offering  instruction  in  mining  have  only 


164  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING   CONGRESS 

a  corporal's,  guard  of  mining  students,  lost  in  an  army  of 
mechanical,  electrical  and  civil  engineering  students. 
Some  of  them  with  long  and  ponderous  names  depend  upon 
the  professor  of  geology  to  teach  all  that  is  taught  of  min- 
ing and  metallurgy. 

Recently  the  writer  tried  to  ascertain  the,exact  number 
of  students  in  mining  and  metallurgy  now  enrolled  in  the 
different  schools  of  the  country.  Inquiries  were  sent  out 
and  the  replies  received  from  thirty  with  results  as 
follows: 

10  schools  reported  less  than  25  students 
7  schools  reported  from  25  to  50  students 
5  schools  reported  from  50  to  100  students 
4  schools  reported  from  100  to  200  students 
3  schools  reported  from  200  to  300  students 
1  school  reported  more  than  300  students 

The  total  number  reported  amounted  to  2,370.  Allow- 
ing for  the  schools  not  reporting  it  is  fair  to  assume  that 
the  number  of  students  of  mining  and  metallurgy,  at  the 
present  time,  in  the  United  States  in  resident  schools  is 
about  3,000.  All  the  schools  known  to  have  a  large  attend- 
ance are  accounted  for  in  this  list.  The  attend- 
ance at  the  fifteen  schools  not  reporting  is  known  to  be 
small,  so  it  is  clear  that  only  eight  mining  schools  in  the 
country  have  an  attendance  of  more  than  one  hundred  each. 
These  figures,  compared  with  the  attendance  at  such  great 
schools  as  Sibley  College,  of  Cornell  and  the  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technology,  where  the  engineering  students  are 
numbered  in  the  thousands,  shows  conclusively  that  in 
numbers,  at  least,  mining  education  is  lagging  behind.  It 
is  also  true,  admitting  that  some  few  schools  are  well 
equipped,  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  schools  are  ill  prepared 
to  give  thorough  instruction.  From  the  point  of  view,  then, 
of  quality  as  well  as  quantity  of  instruction,  mining  educa- 
tion is  lagging  behind. 

There  are  several  reasons  for  this  condition.  The  first 
is  a  long  continued  lack  of  appreciation  of  the  need  of  tech- 
nical training  for  the  mining  and  metallurgical  industries. 
The  picturesque  figure  of  the  prospector,  however,  is  rapidly 
disappearing.  In  his  place  comes  the  highly  trained  engi- 
neer— the  expert  in  geology,  in  engineering  and  in  chem- 
istry. In  place  of  the  single  miner  panning  out  his  gold,  is 
the  placer  mining  company  with  its  huge  dredge  or  its 
great  water  power,  levelling  hills  and  diverting  whole  rivers 
to  secure  the  free  gold.  Probably  ninety  per  cent,  of  the 
mining  of  today  is  done  by  incorporated  companies  employ- 


MINING  ENGINEERING  EDUCATION  165 

ing  every  grade  of  labor  from  the  "mucker"  up  to  the  high- 
est priced  engineer.  The  demand  for  competent  mining  men 
now  exceeds  the  supply,  because  the  real  worth  of  the  tech- 
nical man  is  appreciated  more  fully  than  ever  before.  With 
this  demand  is  coining  a  stronger  and  better  support  for 
the  mining  schools  which  augurs  well  for  the  future. 

Another  cause  lies  in  the  fact  that  in  the  west,  where 
mining  engineers  are  in  great  demand,  schools  are  new  and 
funds  limited.  Had  the  great  metalliferous  mines  been 
found  in  the  Allegheny  mountains,  the  Atlantic  coast  would 
now  be  dotted  with  mining  schools.  Some  of  our  great  min- 
ing schools,  to  be  sure,  are  located  in  the  East,  but  they  are 
riot  located  in  mining  centers,  nor  in  a  mining  atmosphere, 
nor  where  their  students  can  have  easy  access  to  mines, 
mills  and  smelters.  The  Mecca  for  other  lines  of  engineer- 
ing education  may  be  in  the  East,  but  the  center  for  mining 
education  will,  of  necessity,  lie  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains. 

Another  cause  is  the  failure  on  the  part  of  legislators 
to  recognize  that  the  field  of  mining  instruction  may  cover 
legitimately  not  merely  the  metal,  but  the  great  field  of  non- 
metalliferous  mining.  In  Colorado  today  there  is  the  keen- 
est demand  for  coal  mining  engineers,  but  only  a  limited 
supply.  The  center  for  coal  mining  engineering  is,  of 
course,  in  Pensylvania,  but  even  in  other  states  where  coal 
mining  is  an  important  industry,  as  in  Indiana  and  Illinois, 
no  effort  of  any  consequence  is  made  to  educate  the  coal 
mining  engineer.  As  long  as  mining  means  to  the  average 
law-maker  only  gold  and  silver  mining,  just  so  long  will  he 
look  upon  appropriations  for  mining  schools  as  benefiting 
only  a  few,  but  as  soon  as  he  sees  the  full  breadth  of  the 
mining  industry,  and  understands  that  it  covers  the  rare 
metals,  like  tungsten  and  vanadium,  the  common  metals, 
like  gold  and  silver,  lead,  tin,  zinc  and  copper,  the  entire 
coal  and  iron  industry,  and  the  great  industries  involving 
clay,  gypsum,  limestones,  sandstones,  granite,  gas,  oil  and 
cement,  then  he  is  likely  to  be  more  friendly  towards  mining 
education. 

Still  another  reason  is  the  unorganized  condition  of  the 
mining  industry.  While  the  farmer  has  succeeded  in  secur- 
ing national  recognition  of  his  industry,  has  forced  the 
government  to  organize  a  Department  of  Agriculture,  and, 
on  three  occasions,  has  secured  the  passage  of  bills  giving 
financial  aid  to  state  agricultural  schools,  the  miner  has 
secured  nothing.  The  farmer  has  an  army  of  scientific  men 
in  the  employ  of  the  government,  all  seeking  to  aid  him  in 


166  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

solving  the  problems  of  scientific  agriculture.  Almost  every 
state  has  an  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  whose  sole 
business  it  is  to  help  him  to  increase  the  value  of  his  pro- 
duct. The  miner  in  the  hills,  who  shares  with  the  farmer 
the  credit  of  engaging  in  an  industry  basal  to  all  other  in- 
dustries, gets  not  a  particle  of  assistance.  With  govern- 
mental recognition  of  the  mining  industry  through  the 
establishment  of  a  Department  of  Mines  and  Mining,  with 
headquarters  at  Washington,  with  governmental  aid  to 
state  mining  schools,  and  with  the  organization  of  mining 
experimental  stations  to  aid  the  plain  prospector  and  the 
small  miner,  mining  education  would  no  longer  lag  behind. 

While  some  of  the  causes  resulting  in  a  low  general 
standard  for  mining  education  remain  operative,  yet  it  is 
pleasant  to  record  a  marked  improvement  in  the  past  few 
years.  Chief  among  the  favorable  influences  is  the  clearer 
appreciation  of  the  need  of  trained  mining  engineers.  This 
is  due,  in  turn,  to  the  appreciation  of  mining  as  less  specu- 
lative and  more  substantial,  as  an  industry,  than  formerly; 
also  to  the  formation  of  large  companies  organized  to  work 
extensive  properties  requiring  the  services  of  competent 
engineers ;  and  to  the  treatment  of  great  bodies  of  low  grade 
ores  which  necessitates  the  employment  of  many  engineers, 
chemists  and  assayers  of  ability.  These  influences  have 
caused  an  increased  demand,  to  supply  which  the  schools 
now  organized  are  endeavoring  as  best  they  can.  Those  in 
charge  of  schools  are  doing  all  they  can,  but  they  need 
more  and  better  trained  instructors,  better  laboratories, 
more  testing  plants,  and  much  more  money. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note,  however,  that  a  new  interest  in 
mining  education  is  manifest.  An  optimistic  view  certainly 
prevails  and  the  outlook  is  promising.  Among  the  impor- 
tant events  which  compel  this  view,  are  the  gifts  of  John 
Hays  Hammond  to  Yale,  by  Mrs.  Phoebe  Hearst  to  the 
University  of  California,  by  John  D.  Rockefeller  to  the 
Case  School  of  Applied  Science,  by  Senator  Simon  Guggen- 
heim to  the  Colorado  School  of  Mines,  the  increased  appro- 
priations for  buildings  and  current  expenses  by  nearly  all 
of  the  western  legislatures,  and  the  new  departments  of 
mining  which  have  been  organized  at  the  Case  School  of 
Applied  Science  and  at  Northwestern  University.  Notable, 
too,  is  the  establishment  of  a  new  and  separate  school  of 
mines,  authorized  by  the  Legislature  of  Wisconsin,  to  be 
located  at  Platteville,  Wisconsin,  and  designed  to  train 
practical  miners.  This  is  a  new  and  important  step,  be- 
cause it  recognizes  secondary  technical  education  as  of 


MINING  ENGINEERING  EDUCATION  167 

industrial  importance.  It  is  also  fortunate  that  action  was 
taken  by  a  state  legislature,  for  it  thus  takes  on  a  public 
character,  and,  no  doubt,  will  lead  other  states  to  recog- 
nize the  need  of  fostering  industrial  education  as  an  aid 
to  industry. 

The  Scope. 

The  engineer,  no  matter  what  his  special  field,  is  the 
pioneer  of  the  twentieth  century.  Especially  is  tnis  true  of 
the  mining  engineer.  Industry  would  be  paralyzed  without 
coal,  iron,  copper,  gold,  silver,  lead,  zinc,  clays,  cement  and 
all  the  other  products  for  which  the  mining  engineer  works. 
As  his  work  is  broad  and  comprehensive,  so  is  his  education. 
In  addition  to  the  knowledge  of  the  electrical,  mechanical 
and  civil  engineer,  he  must  have  the  training  of  a  chemist, 
a  metallurgist,  a  geologist  and  a  business  man,  besides, 
he  must  have  as  it  were,  a  stomach  like  that  of  an  ostrich, 
a  heart  as  vigorous  as  a  force  pump,  and  a  physique  like 
Sandow;  in  the  camp,  he  must  rough  it  with  the  Slav  and 
the  Pole,  but  in  New  York  he  must  have  the  polish  of  a 
Chesterfield;  besides  all  these  qualifications,  he  must  be  a 
skilled  manager,  a  practical  economist,  and  above  all,  a 
dividend  producer.  Few  occupations  demand  so  much  of  a 
man  as  that  of  a  mining  engineer.  However,  many  a  young 
man  is  now  preparing  to  enter  the  profession.  Why?  Be- 
cause American  spirit  will  not  down.  Wherever  there  are 
difficulties  to  be  overcome  or  obstacles  to  be  removed,  there 
the  young  American  will  be  found.  For  more  than  twenty 
years  I  have  been  dealing  with  the  education  of  young  men 
in  the  prime  of  their  youth,  preparing  for  their  life  work.  I 
have  seen  them  go  into  the  army,  into  journalism,  into  law, 
into  medicine,  into  business,  into  the  ministry,  into  all 
branches  of  engineering,  but  those  who  enter  the  profes- 
sion of  mining  engineering  are  the  most  enterprising,  the 
most  self-reliant,  the  most  ambitious,  the  most  all-around 
Americans  of  them  all. 

The  scope  of  mining  education  should  be  broad;  it 
should  be  philosophic;  it  should  be  human.  For  breadth 
there  are  few  professions  that  can  surpass  it.  Some  per- 
sons educated  in  geology  alone,  think  they  are  mining  engi- 
neers; others  delude  themselves  with  the  same  fond  hope 
because  they  are  familiar,  through  training  or  experience,  or 
both,  with  the  mechanical,  the  electrical,  or  the  chemical 
aspects  of  mining.  Some,  still  more  deluded,  think  they  are 
mining  engineers  because  they  can  handle  the  instruments 
well  enough  to  survey  underground,  or  manipulate  a  fur- 
nace and  run  a  fifty  cent  assay. 


168  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

The  real  mining  engineer  is  not  any  of  these,  but  all 
of  them  combined.  He  may  not  practice  all  of  these  accom- 
plishments, but  his  education  should  include  them,  and 
more.  The  peculiar  features  attendant  upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  some  mining  companies  have  frequently  been  of  such 
a  nature  that  "favorite  sons"  or  "worthy  nephews'7  have 
been  placed  in  charge  of  mining  properties  and  have  been 
"educated1"  at  a  fearful  cost  to  the  stockholders.  Such  dis- 
regard of  the  fundamental  principles  of  success  in  mine 
management  is  so  culpable  that  no  one  should  sympathize 
with  the  directors  or  stockholders  who  permit  such  blunders 
to  be  made.  The  fault  lies  in  expecting  a  man — honest  and 
Avell  intentioned,  undoubtedly — but  without  broad  profes- 
sional training  and  practical  experience,  to  succeed  in  a 
position  where  these  qualities  are  the  prime  requisites. 
Besides  the  ordinary  subjects  fundamental  to  all  successful 
engineering  education  the  mining  engineer  should  under- 
stand such  professional  subjects  as  underground  surveying, 
assaying,  the  principles  of  ore  dressing  and  metallurgical 
treatment,  mine  sampling,  mine  examination,  mine  reports, 
the  economics  of  mining,  mine  management,  mine  plant  de- 
sign, mill  construction,  mining  law,  and  business  forms. 

The  mining  engineer,  when  examining  a  property  for  a 
prospective  purchaser,  holds  a  relation  to  his  client  as  close, 
as  exacting,  as  distinctly  ethical,  as  does  the  lawyer  or  the 
physician  to  his  client.  He  is,  perhaps,  more  subject  to 
temptation  than  any  other  professional  man.  If  purchasa- 
ble, he  may  be  bribed  to  make  a  favorable  report  on  a  worth- 
less property,  fleece  his  client,  but  fill  his  own  pockets  with 
the  price  of  his  reputation.  He  must  be  ever  on  the  watch 
to  . prevent  being  duped  into  reporting  favorably  on  a 
"salted  mine."  On  the  other  hand  he  must  not  be  so  conser- 
vative as  to  turn  down  really  good  properties.  He  cannot 
see  through  solid  rock,  but  he  must  have,  as  it  were,  a  nose 
for  ore.  On  his  report  thousands  or  millions  of  dollars  may 
be  made  or  irretrievably  lost.  He  must,  therefore,  be  a 
man  of  sound,  ripe  judgment,  not  over-confident,  nor  too 
conservative.  Such  a  man  must,  of  necessity,  be  a  philoso- 
pher— not  a  recluse  nor  a  metaphysician,  but  a  man 
who  has  a  broad  view  of  life,  who  can  judge  character,  mo- 
tives and  intent;  who  can  divine  why  the  owner  is  willing  to 
sell — because  the  mine  has  been  worked  out,  or  because  he 
really  has  not  the  necessary  capital  to  continue  develop- 
ment work. 

High  personal  character  and  lofty  ideals  as  to  profes- 
sional ethics  should  distinguish  the  mining  engineer.  While 


MINING  ENGINEERING  EDUCATION  169 

the  professors  of  law  and  of  medicine  are  recognized  by  law, 
while  mine  inspectors  are  required  to  pass  an  examination 
showing  their  fitness  for  the  work,  and  even  street  peddlers 
must  secure  a  license,  yet  the  engineer  has  no  professional 
status  under  the  law.  The  mining  engineer  may  practice 
on  any  one  whom  he  can  persuade  to  accept  his  work.  The 
public  at  large  has  no  way  to  determine  whether  he  has 
made  any  preparation  whatever  for  a  professional  career. 
The  great  engineering  societies,  recognizing  this  defect,  try 
to  remedy  it  by  making  membership  in  their  societies  a  pass- 
port to  a  good  professional  standing.  This  is,  however,  not 
sufficient.  There  should  be  legal  restriction  upon  those  who 
desire  to  practice  engineering  as  there  is  upon  those  who 
desire  to  practice  law  or  medicine.  In  Illinois,  for  example, 
no  man  can  legally  practice  architecture  who  is  not  certified 
by  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  as  a  competent  architect. 
In  the  mining  states  it  would  be  a  great  boon  to  the  invest- 
ing public  if  all  who  desired  to  practice  mining  engineering- 
should  first  be  certified  by  a  State  Board,  either  through 
direct  examination  or  on  general  professional  experience  as 
competent  mining  engineers.  Such  action  would  go  a  long 
way  towards  eliminating  mining  frauds  and  fake  promotion 
schemes;  besides  it  would  place  the  professional  work  en- 
tirely in  the  hands  of  competent  men,  who  would  strive  to 
uphold  the  dignity  and  ideals  of  the  profession.  It  would 
further  eliminate  the  unfit  because  it  would  show  to  the 
public  at  once  who  the  fit  and  the  unfit  were. 

Like  the  regular  army,  the  industrial  army  is  composed 
of  commissioned  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
privates.  The  privates  must,  in  either  army,  be  taught  their 
duties  by  practice  under  the  guidance  of  trained  officers.  In 
our  present  organization  the  commissioned  officers  are 
trained  in  our  schools  of  mines,  but,  with  the  exception  of 
the  new  school  at  Platteville,  there  has  been  no  attempt  by 
the  state  or  by  the  general  government,  to  train  the  non- 
commissioned officers,  although  this  is  a  branch  needing 
attention  fully  as  much  as  any  other.  Fortunately,  through 
private  enterprises,  begun  in  the  coal  districts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania by  the  International  Correspondence  School,  there 
has  been  developed  an  influence  for  the  better  training  of 
practical  miners  in  comparison  with  which  the  entire  efforts 
of  the  state  and  nation  pale  into  insignificance.  Such  work, 
however,  should  not  be  left  to  private  enterprise,  good 
though  it  may  be.  The  states  interested  in  the  mining  in- 
dustry should,  as  Massachusetts  is  now  doing,  through  her 
Industrial  Education  Commission,  investigate  the  need  of 
secondary  technical  education  and  solve  the  problem,  possi- 


170  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

bly,  as  Wisconsin  has  done,  by  the  organization  of  practical 
schools  in  the  mining  camps  for  the  training  of  practical 
miners,  by  increased  aid  to  schools  already  existing,  or  by 
the  organization  of  experimental  plants  to  aid  in  the  solu- 
tion of  the  problems  confronting  the  mining  industry. 

In  most  educational  work  we  begin  at  the  bottom,  as 
it  were,  and  work  upwards  trying  to  develop  a  young  man 
up  to  a  certain  standard.  In  mining  engineering  education 
we  are  forced  to  proceed  in  the  opposite  direction.  We  are 
shown  by  the  profession  what  grade  of  efficiency  a  young 
graduate  should  possess.  Given  this  standard  we  are 
obliged  to  work  backwards  and  to  force  into  a  four  year 
curriculum  the  necessary  amount  of  training.  This  squeez 
ing  process  results  in  a  heavy,  rigid  course  with  numerous 
failures,  but  it  produces  good  mining  engineers. 

The  action  of  the  General  Electric  Company  at  Schenec- 
tady,  New  York,  and  the  Westinghouse  Electric  Company 
at  Pittsburg,  in  taking  electrical  graduates  into  their  works 
for  additional  training,  suggests  the  close  relationship  which 
should  exist  between  the  engineering  school  and  the  pro- 
fession. At  the  present  time  there  is  no  such  relation  exist- 
ing between  the  mining  school  and  large  mining  companies. 
Such  a  relation  could,  in  many  cases,  be  entered  into  with 
profit.  However,  there  is  another  way  to  bring  about  the 
desired  connection,  that  is  by  equipping  the  mining  schools 
with  extensive  experimental  plants,  to  do  for  the  mining 
industry  what  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Stations  do  for 
agriculture. 

Millions  of  dollars  have  been  wasted  on  mills  that  were 
ill-adapted  to  the  ore  to  be  treated.  The  reason  for  such 
waste  is  that  there  are  few  opportunities  for  exhaustive 
tests  to  be  made  so  as  to  determine  the  best  method  of  treat- 
ing a  particular  ore.  To  be  sure,  there  are  private  testing 
plants,  like  those  in  Denver,  but  they  are  by  no  means  com- 
plete in  their  work,  nor  authoritative  in  their  results.  In 
order  to  make  the  relation  as  close  as  possible  the  mining 
schools,  as  far  as  practicable,  should  have  large,  complete 
and  well  equipped  testing  plants,  so  that  ore,  in  carload 
lots,  could  be  thoroughly  and  scientifically  tested  so  as  to 
determine,  beyond  question,  the  method  of  extracting  the 
maximum  values.  If  such  plants  were  open  for  the  use  of 
practicing,  mining  engineers  and  owners  could  send  their 
ore  to  be  treated,  not  only  would  there  be  the  most  cordial 
relation  between  the  school  and  the  mining  industry,  but 
both  would  be  immeasurably  benefited. 


MINING  ENGINEERING  EDUCATION  171 

Finally,  to  recapitulate,  mining  education  as  a  national 
question,  has  never  received  the  support  and  attention  it 
richly  deserves.  Recent  events,  however,  contain  hopeful 
signs  for  the  future.  There  is  much  work  to  be  done,  not 
only  in  developing  the  high  grade  schools,  but  in  fostering 
education  for  the  practical  miner,  in  elevating  the  mining 
profession  to  a  higher  plane  than  it  now  occupies,  in  secur- 
ing both  from  the  states  and  from  the  general  government 
greater  financial  support,  and  in  bringing  the  mining  school 
and  the  mining  industry  into  hearty  co-operation  for  their 
mutual  benefit. 


What  Can  the  Profession  Really  Expect  from  the  Mining  School  Graduate  ? 


BY    MILNOR    ROBERTS,    SEATTLE,    WASHINGTON. 

The  preliminary  training  that  was  received  by  mining 
engineers  who  are  now  successfully  practicing  their  profes- 
sions varied  widely  in  different  cases.  Some  men  gained 
their  knowledge  and  skill  wholly  from  experience  and  indi- 
vidual study,  others  had  a  collective  scientific  course  for  a 
foundation,  while  in  recent  years  many  have  graduated 
from  mining  schools.  A  consideration  of  these  wide  varia- 
tions leads  to  one  of  two  conclusions:  either,  the  qualifica- 
tions of  a  mining  engineer  do  not  conform  to  a  fixed  stand- 
ard, or  else  if  any  criterion  exists  it  is  not  accepted  the  world 
over.  Assuming  that  there  is  only  partial  truth  in  the 
former  conclusion,  regarding  the  latter  it  must  be  admitted 
that  within  certain  limits  there  is  a  considerable  lack  of 
uniformity  and  agreement  of  ideas. 

Mining  engineering  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
most  difficult  professions  in  which  to  prepare.  The  various 
problems  arising  in  it  would  require  for  their  exact  or  per- 
fect solution  a  knowledge  of  many  branches  of  engineering 
as  well  as  of  other  professions,  sciences  and  trades  covering 
n  wide  range.  To  master  these  many  useful  adjuncts  to  the 
principal  training  before  beginning  to  practice  would  cause 
unwarranted, delay,  besides  being  impracticable.  Therefore 
one  must  choose  first  the  absolutely  necessary  portions, 
those  on  which  future  knowledge  may  be  built  and  those 
which  would  be  difficult  to  attain  later. 

The  question  "What  can  the  profession  really  expect 
from  the  mining  school  graduate,"  can  first  be  answered  in 
a  general  way.  The  most  obvious  purpose  of  a  mining 
school  is  to  teach  not  only  the  principles  of  the  sciences  and 
of  engineering  but  also  the  technical  subjects  needed  by  a 
mining  engineer.  Men  of  the  profession  are  in  the  best  po- 
sition to  say  what  training  is  most  useful  to  meet  their  du- 
ties and  they  can  with  propriety  ask  that  preparation  shall 
be  in  accordance  with  their  opinion.  In  other  words,  the  pro- 
fession can  reasonably  expect  from  the  mining  school  grad- 
uate whatever  it  reasonably  demands  in  his  education.  To 
criticize  the  results  of  this  training  without  indicating  how 
it  shall  be  obtained  or  considering  the  methods  now  in  use 
seems  illogical.  Proceeding  on  this  assumption,  it  is,  profit- 
able to  discuss  the  kind  of  preparation  needed  and  to  state 
what  amount  of  it  seems  most  desirable. 


THE    MINING   SCHOOL  GRADUATE.  173 

Preparatory  schools,  high  schools  and  academies  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  give  practically  the  same  instruction, 
resulting  in,  or  rather,  largely  on  acount  of  nearly  uniform 
college  entrance  requirements.  There  is  general  agreement 
among  our  institutions  of  collegiate  rank  as  to  the  studies 
needed  in  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  an  engineering 
course.  In  the  upper  class  and  graduate  years,  however, 
and  in  the  vacations  there  is  opportunity  for  choice  of  sub- 
jects and  of  the  length  of  time  alloAved  to  each. 

The  quantity  of  preparation  evidently  varies  with  ,the 
time  taken  to  acquire  it.  But  unfortunately  experience  has 
shown  that  a  steady  diet  of  this  intellectual  food  when  con- 
tinued overlong  becomes  not  only  unpalatable  but  indigesti- 
ble. This  is  true  from  the  very  nature  of  mining,  where 
familiarity  with  natural  conditions  which  cannot  be  repro- 
duced or  forcibly  explained  in  the  laboratory  is  a  necessary 
qualification  of  the  engineer.  Now  if  there  is  one  thing  that 
a  mining  student  ought  to  avoid  it  is  a  predigested  food, 
hence  the  value  of  imitating  those  features  of  ancient  times 
who  alternated  games  and  dances  with  their  courses  of 
food,  in  order  to  help  digestion  and  whet  their  appetites. 
Vacation  courses,  summers  spent  in  mining  and  tours  of 
inspection  are  recognized  as  useful  aids  to  the  assimilation 
of  laboratory  and  class  room  knowledge.  If  the  field  ex- 
perience which  may  be  gained  partly  before  and  partly  after 
graduation  is  considered  part  of  the  preparation,  it  is  im- 
possible to  draw  a  line  at  which  instruction  may  be  said  to 
end  and  practice  begins. 

Regarding  the  kind  of  training  most  desired,  the  bene- 
fit of  a  broad  foundation  reinforced  by  sterling  habits  of 
Avork  rather  than  a  specialized  structure  without  the  lat- 
ter bracing  is  generally  recognized.  Its  value  is  emphasized 
by  the  fact  that  to  a  greater  extent  in  mining  than  in  other 
industries  the  exact  technical  studies  which  will  prove  use- 
ful immediately  cannot  be  foretold  except  for  a  particular 
district  or  a  certain  branch  of  the  work.  Furthermore,  it 
may  be  convenient  or  necessary  at  some  later  time  to  take  up  a 
different  branch  from  the  one  originally  intended.  A  stu- 
dent who  can  devote  an  extra  length  of  time  to  preparation 
should  be  warned  against  the  mere  collecting  and  memoriz- 
ing of  information  on  a  number  of  more  or  less  parallel  tech- 
nical subjects.  An  investigation  requiring  original  effort 
will  prove  of  greater  interest  and  will  show  the  need  of  ad- 
vanced study  and  continuous  reasoning. 

Among  the  qualities  which  may  rightfully  be  expected 
in  the  graduate  is  accuracy  of  observation  within  the  limits 


174  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

of  his  knowledge.  For  example,  a  student  with  only  a  few 
months  of  field  experience  who  attempts  to  describe  an  oc- 
currence of  ore  may  not  realize  the  bearings  of  the  facts  he 
himself  observes,  or  he  may  even  fail  to  observe  certain  rela- 
tions which  would  be  apparent  to  a  trained  eye.  But  on  the 
other  hand  whatever  notes  or  sketches  he  makes  should  be 
reliable. 

Coupled  with  the  quality  just  mentioned  is  the  trait, 
especially  commendable  in  a  young  engineer,  of  having  an 
accurate  estimate  of  one's  own  capabilities.  There  need  be 
no  confusion  of  this  judicial  frame  of  mind  with  weakness, 
or  the  fear  of  failure  in  an  undertaking.  For  instance,  the 
examinations  of  even  a  small  mining  proposition  may  in- 
volve questions  of  mining  law.  A  wide-awake  young  fellow 
would  be  expected  to  learn  this  fact  and  at  least  call  atten- 
tion to  it,  even  if  he  could  offer  no  advice  on  the  subject. 
Sometimes  the  problem  in  hand  contains  commercial  fac- 
tors which  demand  more  business  experience  than  a  graduate 
has  had  time  to  accumulate.  General  principles  and  sound 
reasoning  are  not  always  of  much  assistance  in  answering 
questions  of  mining  law,  especially  where  local  rules  in- 
tervene, nor  are  they  applicable  to  every  transaction  in 
business.  We  must  expect,  then,  to  find  inexperience  in 
such  matters  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception  with  gradu- 
ates. 

It  would  seem  that  the  only  logical  basis  on  which  the 
subject  of  a  mining  school  graduate's  qualifications  can  be 
considered  is  that  he  is  to  be  concerned  with  the  working 
of  a  mine,  no  matter  of  what  sort.  It  is  difficult  to  compare 
the  running  of  a  soft  iron  ore  mine  in  Michigan  with  one  of 
Colorado's  high  grade  silver  properties  but  the  underlying 
principles  of  the  operation,  the  life  of  the  task  and  the  spirit 
cf  the  workers  is  the  same  at  each.  In  so  far  as  the  young 
engineer  stationed  at  either  mine,  while  fulfilling  his  own 
duties,  loses  sight  of  the  aims  of  all  parts  of  the  operating 
system  and  their  mutual  relations,  he  is  failing  to  qualify 
himself  for  an  active  charge.  In  order  to  have  a  clear  under- 
standing of  the  mine  it  is  absolutely  essential  to  possess  a 
knowledge  of  the  ore,  its  probable  life  and  the  methods  of 
mining  and  treating  it.  The  profession  can  demand  that 
these  latter  points  shall  be  made  of  the  first  importance. 

If  the  above  view  is  held  the  recent  graduate  may  be 
excused  for  ignorance  of  other  technical  subjects  which  in 
themselves  may  be  as  available  as  those  mentioned.  It  may 
happen  that  a  mine  needs  only  transportation  facilities  to 
put  it  on  a  working  basis.  An  aerial  tramway  is  suggested 


THE    MINING   SCHOOL  GRADUATE.  175 

and  the  engineer  is  called  on  for  drawings.  A  graduate 
should  be  able  to  show  clearly  whether  or  not  the  plan  sug- 
gested would  meet  the  needs  of  the  situation.  His  map  and 
profile  of  the  route  should  be  acceptable  and  his  specifica- 
tions should  bear  weight.  But  unless  he  has  had  consid- 
erable experience  with  tramways,  only  slight  reliance  could 
be  placed  on  his  opinion  regarding  the  advisability  of  in- 
stalling it  exactly  as  designed  in  the  particular  place  in 
question.  Even  a  graduate  would  hardly  have  .risked  his 
reputation  by  designing  an  aerial  tram  such  as  was  recently 
ordered  in  the  state  of  Washington,  with  masts  and  a 
knuckle  tension  station  located  on  a  glacier.  As  another  in- 
stance, suppose  that  the  deciding  element  in  the  plan  is  the 
treatment  of  the  ore  by  some  metallurgical  process  of  re- 
cent invention.  The  graduate  might  not  be  familiar  with 
the.  working  details  of  the  process  but  he  should  know  of  its 
existence  and  should  be  able  to  inform  himself  concern- 
ing it. 

Opposed  to  the  cases  just  described  is  the  one  where  the 
engineer  in  charge  builds  an  excellent  tramway  to  a  prop- 
erty or  constructs  a  creditable  mill  upon  it,  only  to  find  that 
the  composition  of  the  ore  is  not  exactly  as  stated  in  the  in- 
formation furnished  to  him  when  he  assumed  charge  and, 
therefore,  a  different  system  of  treatment  must  be  adopted. 
For  a  mining  engineer  to  depend  on  anyone,  except  those 
working  under  his  instructions,  for  information  on  the  na- 
ture of  his  ore  and  the  possible  methods  of  recovering  the 
values,  seems  an  anomaly.  To  use  a  mild  parody,  "the  mine's 
the  thing." 

There  is  an  apparent  exception  to  this  rule  in  the  case 
of  a  well  established  mine  in  which  the  ore  is  thoroughly 
understood  and  the  principal  need  is  for  an  ingenious  mind 
to  devise  methods  to  lower  the  costs  and  increase  the  out- 
put. However,  no  mine  has  yet  been  found  which  will  not 
bear  watching.  The  need  of  a  geologist's  eye  on  the  ore  in 
a  mine  of  this  type  opens  a  splendid  opportunity  to  the 
mining  graduate.  He  can  show,  his  skill  at  "reading  the 
signs"  and  reporting  them  to  the  consulting  engineer,  and 
at  the  same  time  make  himself  useful  in  other  capacities 
which  will  bring  him  experience. 

On  acount  of  the  conditions  under  which  most  mining 
is  carried  on  and  because  of  the  fact  that  it  cannot  be  made 
an  exact  art  to  the  same  degree  as  mechanical  engineering, 
for  instance,  the  .mining  engineer,  even  when  in  a  subordi- 
nate position,  is  more  dependent  upon  himself  and  less  sub- 
ject to  instructions  and  guidance  than  men  in  other  cor- 


17G  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

responding  professions.  For  these  reasons  it  is  a  greater 
step  from  the  college  to  the  mine  than  most  other  fields  of 
labor.  Some  of  the  large  mines  furnish  an  ideal  entry  to 
professional  practice  and  judging  from  incidents  of  the  past 
few  years  mine  owners  have  found  that  the  benefits  of  the 
plan  are  mutual.  Mining  graduates  in  such  situations 
will  be  useful  in  proportion  as  they  are  given  a  chance  at 
tasks  belonging  strictly  to  their  profession. 

One  of  the  demands  which  can  reasonably  be  made  is 
that  students  shall  be  familiar  not  only  with  the  daily  rou- 
tine of  a  mine,  the  arrangements  of  shifts,  the  pay  system 
and  so  forth,  but  also  with  the  reasons  governing  these  af- 
fairs. Information  of  this  character  is  usually  included  in 
the  mining  curriculum  but  it  should  also  be  mastered  at 
first  hand.  A  summer  spent  underground  will  yield  a. stu- 
dent little  benefit  if  he  does  not  carry  away  a  clear  under- 
standing of  how  the  day's  work  was  done. 

It  would  be  a  great  boon  to  the  profession  if  a  graduate, 
chosen  at  random  could  be  intrusted  with  the  charge  of 
men.  Unfortunately  it  has  been-  found  in  the  past  that  only 
one  young  man  here  and  there  can  fill  the  job  of  boss.  The 
knack  of  handling  a  group  of  workers  to  perfection  is  said 
to  be  a  talent  but  it  is  none  the  less  true  that  a  person  can 
school  himself  to  it  with  very  good  results.  With  the  latter 
object  in  view,  students  looking  for  vacation  employment 
are  advised  to  try  for  positions  in  which  they  can  learn  the 
art  of  superintending  fellow  workmen.  If  a  graduate  shows 
a  lack  of  capacity  in  this  direction,  his  superior  should  give 
him  every  opportunity  to  overcome  his  weakness,  because 
he  will  be  undependable  while  it  lasts. 

Students  today  obtain  much  more  practice  in  the 
methods  of  handling  men  than  they  did  formerly.  With 
the  systematizing  of  all  lines  of  business  and  the  adoption 
of  units  related  to  one  another  as  the  blocks  in  a  pyramid, 
has  come  the  present  methodical  arrangement  of  college 
work.  In  class  reports,  in  laboratory  tests  and  on  the  ath- 
letic field  there  is  plenty  of  opportunity  for  co-operation  and 
the  subdivision  of  labor.  There  is  no  reason  why  a  graduate 
should  not  be  able  to  keep  or  to  oversee  the  keeping  of  time- 
books  and  cost  sheets,  especially  after  a  brief  period  of  in^ 
ptructian  in  his  duties.  These  positions  give  their  holder  a 
clear  insight  into  the  details  of  operation.  Needless  to  say 
an  engineer  would  not  wish  to  devote  to  this  character  of 
work  a  large  part  of  his  time  for  an  indefinite  period. 

Specialization  has  produced  as  remarkable  results  in 
mining  as  in  other  technical  branches,  As  experts  in  vari- 


THE    MINING   SCHOOL  GRADUATE.  177 

ous  lines  are  being  employed  more  generally  from  day  to 
day  to  contribute  their  best  efforts  to  the  working  out  of  a 
mining  proposition,  it  becomes  highly  necessary  that  there 
shall  be  an  equally  skillful  man  who  can  direct  the  efforts 
of  his  co-workers  to  the  greatest  mutual  advantage.  The 
mining  students  of  today,  who  are  to  accomplish  this  in  the 
future,  need  the  advice  of  those  who  are  now  obtaining 
results.  If  the  active  mining  engineers  will  generously 
point  out  the  way,  the  younger  generation  seems  quite  able 
to  follow  at  good  speed. 


Secondary  Technical  Education  Applied  to  Mining 


BY   LEWIS  YOUNG,    HOLLA,    MISSOURI. 

The  prospector  who  cannot  identify  the  common  min- 
erals, who  knows  nothing  of  geology  and  assaying,  is  today 
at  a  great  disadvantage;  the  machine  man  who  does  not 
understand  something  of  the  mechanism  of  the  rock  drill 
is  an  expensive  nuisance;  the  mill  foreman  who  cannot 
make  simple  tests  on  the  o'res  he  is  treating  usually  saves 
only  a  small  percentage;  the  coal  mine  foreman  who  cannot 
produce  coal  cheaply  without  endangering  the  lives  of  the 
miners  can  no  longer  find  employment;  the  mine  superin- 
tendent who  knows  nothing  of  mining  geology  may  find 
some  new  ore  bodies  but  he  will  have  the  odds  against  him. 
The  great  coal  and  metal  mining  camps  of  the  East  and  of 
the  West  require  thoroughly  competent,  ambitious  men  for 
positions  of  responsibility  in  mine,  mill,  and  smelter.  The 
man  who  knows  nothing  of  the  technical  and  scientific  prin- 
ciples underlying  the  industry  will  continue  on  the  pay  roll, 
while  the  man  who  knows  "how"  and  awhy"  receives  a 
salary. 

In  the  mineral  industry  there  is  a  great  demand  at  the 
present  time  for  men  who  have  received  a  thorough  college 
training  in  mining  and  metallurgical  engineering.  Many 
first-class  mining  schools,  colleges,  and  universities  offer 
three,  four  or  five-year  courses  to  train  men  in  the  sciences 
underlying  the  industry  and  in  the  application  of  these 
sciences  to  practice.  Graduates  of  these  courses  find  em- 
ployment as  assayers,  chemists,  surveyors,  draftsmen,  fore- 
men, superintendents,  and  managers  of  many  of  our  large 
mining  companies.  These  college  graduates  and  the  insti- 
tutions which  have  prepared  them  for  their  life's  work  have 
played  an  important  part  in  the  development  of  mining  and 
metallurgy  in  this  and  many  other  lands. 

However,  side  by  side  with  the  college  graduate  is 
found  working  many  a  man  who  may  have  lacked  the  oppor- 
tunity to  study  mining  or  metallurgy  in  college  and  who 
does  not  write  E.  M.  or  Met.  E.  after  his  name.  Many  of  the 
1  -ading  men  in  the  mining  profession  have  by  hard  work, 
personal  study,  and  persistent  efforts  prepared  themselves 
outside  of  college  and  are  qualified  to  rank  with  the  best 
of  the  college  bred  men. 

Many  worthy  men  who   have  availed  themselves  of  * 
every  opportunity  to  study  the  principles  and  the  science 


SECONDARY  TECHNICAL,  EDUCATION.  179 

underlying  the  routine  tasks  in  the  mine,  mill  and  smelter 
have  risen  from  the  ranks  and  hold  responsible  positions  as 
foremen,  assayers,  or  engineers.  These  men  become  more 
valuable  to  their  employers  in  proportion  as  they  under- 
stand what  they  are  doing. 

The  call  for  college  graduates  will  continue  but  there 
is  also  a  growing  demand  for  men  who  have  a  fair  mining 
education — men  not  of  necessity  graduates.  To  provide 
such  training  there  must  be  "Secondary  Technical  Educa- 
tion Applied  to  Mining." 

Courses  of  Study. 

You  are  all  undoubtedly  familiar  with  the  great  influ- 
ence of  the  Secondary  Technical  Education  on  other  indus- 
tries. That  it  is  of  at  least  equal  importance  in  the  mining 
industry  no  one  will  deny.  Recently  Secondary  Technical 
Education  has  received  considerable  attention  in  both  coal 
and  metal  mining.  The  man  who  desires  to  secure  a  mining 
education  without  spending  four  years  at  college,  (1)  may 
take  a  two-year  course  in  mining  at  any  one  of  a  number  of 
good  mining  schools;  (2)  may  take  a  short  course  (several 
months)  at  some  mining  schools;  (3)  may  attend  a  night- 
school;  (4)  may  attend  local  mining  clubs  and  institutes;  or 
(5)  may  study  by  correspondence.  Correspondence  methods 
are  discussed  at  length  in  another  paper,  and  therefore, 
receive  no  further  mention  in  this  paper. 

Two-Tear  Mining  Courses. 

Many  of  the  mining  schools  recognize  the  fact  that  they 
owe  it  to  the  industry  to  assist  men  who  cannot  find  time 
to  complete  the  courses  for  the.  college  degrees.  Such 
men  may  be  interested  in  mining  because  of  investments 
and  may  desire  to  secure  knowledge  in  some  special  line  in 
order  that  they  may  look  after  their  own  interests  more  sat- 
isfactorily; others  may  be  mine  operators  who  have  difficult 
problems  to  solve  and  who  have  discovered  the  value  of  a 
knowledge  of  some  science;  still  others  may  desire  to  qual- 
ify themselves  for  a  respected  and  more  remunerative  posi- 
tion which  requires  a  specific  knowledge  and  training.  To 
such  ambitious  men  many  institutions  of  learning  gladly 
open  their  doors  and  waive  entrance  examinations,  and 
many  college  rules,  provided  these  men  are  of  some  specific 
age,  of  good  character, .  and  demonstrate  their  ability  to 
profit  by  their  opportunities. 

The  Missouri  School  of  Mines  has  for  over  twenty  years 
been  of  assistance  to  many  practical  men  in  this  way  and 


180  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

in  many  instances  these  men  after  completing  a  snort  course 
have  taken  a  full  four  years'  course  and  qualified  for  a  de- 
gree. Other  institutions  have  had  a  similar  experience. 

In  the  West  and  Northwest  there  is  a  growing  demand 
for  educational  opportunities  by  men  actively  engaged  in 
mining.    The  popularity  of  such  courses  is  shown  by  an  arti- 
cle which  appeared  in  a  metropolitan  newspaper  of  the 
Northwest:    "Since   the    course   was    established   it   has 
grown  in  popularity  among  the  mining  men  of  the  North- 
western states  and  those  of  British  Columbia,  and  each  fall 
there  is  an  increased  number  of  inquiries  from  mining  men 
for  detailed  information  about  the  course  and  the  scope  of 
instruction  which  it  covers.     This  year  twenty-six  mining- 
men  registered  in  the  shorter  course,  coming  from  the  var- 
ious grades  of  work  in  the  widely  distributed  mining  fields 
of  the  Northwest.    One  has  been  a  smelter  superintendent ' 
another  has  been  a  mine  foreman;  others  are  property  own- 
ers who   desire  practical  instruction  in  the  development 
of  their  properties  in  order  that  they  may  prosecute  their 
work  to  the  best  advantage.     Others  are  men   who  have 
worked  in  mines  more  or  less  and  expect  to  return  to  their 
several  localities  with  the  opening  of  work  in  the  spring 
with  a  better  knowledge  of  the  technical  details  of  mining ; 
still  others  are  young  men  who  are  just  starting  in  a  full 
four  years'  course  at  the  university,  but  plan  to  return  to 
the  university  another  winter    and  take    advanced    work 
along  mining  lines." 

Short  Courses  at  Rolla. 

The  prescribed  two-year  course  in  mining  and  assaying 
at  the  Missouri  School  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  includes  in 
the  first  year  the  following  subjects:  Higher  Algebra,  Solid 
Geometry,  Trigonometry,  English,  General  Chemistry,  Qual- 
itative Chemical  Analysis  and  Mechanical  Drawing;  in  the 
second  year:  Surveying,  Mineralogy,  General  Geology,  As- 
saying, Quantitative  Chemical  Analysis,  Mining  and  Ore 
Dressing.  Other  subjects  may  be  taken  if  the  student  is 
properly  prepared  and  shows  good  reasons  for  not  taking  a 
regular  course. 

These  short  course  men  are  very  diligent,  ambitious  and 
thoroughly  practical  and  usually  have  a  good  influence 
on  the  study  body  because  of  their  practical  knowledge  and 
diligence.  At  some  of  the  other  mining  schools  the  studies 
of  the  short  courses  are  entirely  optional  and  the  character 
of  the  work  is  determined  by  the  student's  experience  and 
ambitions. 


SECONDARY  TECHNICAL  EDUCATION.  181 

Coal  Mining. 

In  coal  raining  especially  there  is  a  demand  for  men 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  mining  methods,  mine  ventila- 
tion, mine  gases,  mining  machinery,  etc.  Most  of  the  states 
require  coal  mine  officials  to  pass  examinations  in  order  to 
demonstrate  their  fitness  for  a  given  position.  To  qualify 
for  these  examinations  requires  careful  study,  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  elementary  mathematics,  the  mechanics  of 
mine  ventilation,  the  chemistry  of  mine  gases,  the  elements 
of  mechanical  engineering,  some  mechanics,  and  a  knowl- 
edge of  physics  and  other  sciences.  It  is  not  surprising, 
therefore,  that  Secondary  Technical  Education  has  pro- 
gressed very  rapidly  in  the  coal  mining  districts. 

In  various  parts  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  the  fol- 
lowing methods  of  Secondary  Technical  Education  in  coal 
mining  are  in  vogue:  Correspondence  courses,  lecture 
courses  by  mining  employes,  mining  institutes  conducted 
by  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,  day  and  night 
schools  at  technical  institutes,  and  special  and  tAVO-year  col- 
lege courses. 

Bituminous  Mining  Clubs. 

It  is  especially  interesting  to  note  the  progress  and  suc- 
cess of  the  work  of  the  industrial  and  educational  depart- 
ments of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  both  in 
Pennsylvania  and  in  other  states.  The  bituminous  depart- 
ment, with  headquarters  at  Greensburg,  Pa.,  has  organized 
"Bituminous  Mining  Clubs"  and  "Institutes"  with  the  plea 
that  "Technical  and  Moral  Education  makes  a  man  more 
efficient  in  the  position  he  occupies,  gives  him  greater  earn 
ing  capacity,  is  a  requisite  element  in  success,  and  brings 
deeper  enjoyment  to  the  industrial  life." 

The  men  who  teach  or  lead  in  the  study  of  mining  at 
the  coal  mining  clubs,  are  mine  foremen,  fire-bosses,  engi- 
neers, or  other  practical  men  about  the  mines,  depending 
upon  what  a  club  wishes  to  take  up.  A  club  meets  at  least 
once  a  week  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  rooms 
cr  in  rooms  furnished  by  the  coal  mining  companies.  Once 
every  two  or  three  months  a  "Local  Institute"  is  conducted. 
District  Mining  Institutes  are  held  annually,  the  program 
consisting  of  papers  on  various  phases  of  mining,  presented 
<,y  prominent  mining  men,  of  addresses  on  mining  topics, 
and  of  the  discussion  of  mining  club  plans. 

The  bituminous  region  of  Pennsylvania  has  been 
divided  into  eleven  districts.  The  institute  committees 
fire  composed  of  state  mine  inspectors,  superintendents, 
engineers,  etc.;  in  all,  about  four  hundred  leaders  over  the 


182  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

region  on  all  of  the  committees.  It  is  estimated  that  at  the 
present  time  there  are  one  thousand  men  studying  mining 
through  these  clubs  in  western  Pennsylvania. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Metal  Mining  Courses. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  has  planned  a 
similar  system  for  other  coal  mining  districts  in  the  East 
and  in  the  West.  In  Colorado  and  Utah  definite  courses 
are  to  be  offered  this  winter  in  metal  mining  camps.  The 
Salt  Lake  City  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  offers  a 
number  of  courses  that  are  of  interest  to  mining  men,  includ- 
ing two  courses  in  Chemistry,  two  in  Electricity,  one  in 
Metallurgy,  one  in  Mining,  one  in  Trigonometry,  one  in  Sur- 
veying, and  one  in  Topographical  Drafting.  Chemistry  and 
Metallurgy  are  taught  on  two  nights  a  week  by  demonstra- 
tive lectures;  Mining  is  taught  by  a  series  of  lectures.  Sur- 
veying involves  Saturday  afternoon  field  wrork  and  one  night 
for  the  compilation  of  field  notes.  At  the  present  time  the 
enrollment  in  each  of  these  classes  averages  twelve  men. 

The  two  objectives  of  these  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociations' courses  are: 

"First: — To  enable  the  worker  to  increase  his  knowl- 
edge and  skill  and  thereby  increase  his  earning  capacity  and 
to  fit  him  for  larger  work  and  a  better  position. 

"Second: — To  increase  his  knowledge  and  ability  in  the 
position  which  he  now  fills,  even  though  his  present  work 
may  not  actually  demand  this  increase  of  efficiency." 

In  many  of  the  mining  camps  the  first  educational 
work  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  really  of 
a  primary  nature.  In  one  of  the  mining  camps  of  the  San 
Juan  district  of  Colorado,  one  association  is  teaching 
twenty-three  Greeks  to  speak  English.  At  another  camp  in 
the  same  district  the  classes  include  men  of  seven  national- 
ities. The  work  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
in  these  camps  is  slowly  telling  and  demonstrating  that 
there  is  a  great  need  for  Secondary  Technical  Education  in 
the  mining  camps. 

Methods. 

Methods  of  technical  education  are  changing  and  im- 
proving rapidly.  In  no  division  has  greater  advancement 
been  made  than  in  agriculture  and  in  agricultural  education. 
That  engineering  and  mining  schools  have  as  able  and  pro- 
gressive educators,  no  one  will  deny,  but  the  fact  remains 
that,  as  a  class,  the  agricultural  educator  has  accomplished 
more  during  the  past  ten  years  than  has  his  mining  col- 
league. It  is  to  be  especially  noted  that  Secondary  Techm- 


SECONDARY  TECHNICAL  EDUCATION.  183 

cal  Education  in  Agriculture  has  received  much  attention. 
The  results  speak  for  themselves.  The  Farmers'  Short 
Course,  the  Stock  Show,  the  Dairy  School,  the  Corn  Show, 
the  Farmers'  Institute,  the  Corn  Special  and  the  other 
means  of  disseminating  information  regarding  the  farm 
and  farm  products  have  enabled  the  agricultural  schools  to 
come  closely  in  touch  with  the  industry,  have  materially 
improved  the  quality  and  the  quantity  of  farm  products, 
and  have  been  factors  of  economic  importance  to  the  farmer, 
the  dairyman,  the  stockman,  and  the  horticulturist. 

Mining  Experiment  Stations. 

One  of  the  leading  educators  in  agriculture  on  being 
asked  to  explain  the  phenomenal  advancement  in  agricul- 
tural education  replied  that  in  his  opinion  the  progress  and 
the  growth  were  possible  only  because  of  the  methods  of 
education  used  and  because  of  the  agricultural  experiment 
stations.  These  latter  offer  almost  ideal  opportunities  for 
demonstrative  work  for  the  student,  permit  of  investigation 
and  research,  and  enable  the  educators  to  work  out  prob- 
lems of  scientific  and  economic  interest.  Without  the  ex- 
periment station,  our  schools  of  agriculture  would  be  almost 
useless  as  judged, by  present  day  American  standards,  and 
it  is  because  of  the  experiment  station  that  the  methods 
used  in  Secondary  Education  in  Agriculture  have  been  so 
eminently  successful. 

Recently  two  engineering  experiment  stations  have 
been  established  by  states  of  the  Middle  West.  It  is  gen- 
erally conceded  that  these  stations  will  not  only  assist  in 
the  solution  of  problems  in  engineering,  but  they  will  also 
materially  improve  the  quality  of  engineering  education. 

The  mining  experiment  station  is  not  a  new  idea,  nor  a 
fanciful  one.  There  is  much  experimental  and  testing  work 
awaiting  the  opening  of  such  plants.  There  are  refractory 
ores  to  be  tested  and  there  is  drilling  machinery  to  be  tried; 
there  are  safety  appliances  to  be  demonstrated  and  elec- 
trical smelting  is  to  be  adapted.  Many  other  lines  of  inves- 
tigation could  be  pursued  which  would  make  possible  im- 
portant advances  in  the  industry.  When  such  mining  ex- 
periment stations  will  have  been  established  at  the  various 
state  mining  schools,  it  will  be  possible  for  mining  educators 
to  assist  the  mining  industry  as  agricultural  educators  have 
helped  agriculture  and  at  the  same  time  the  equipment  and 
facilities  for  teaching  will  be  greatly  improved. 


184  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

Future. 

The  advances  made  in  Secondary  Technical  Education 
in  mining  are  thoroughly  creditable  to  the  individuals  and 
the  institutions  which  have  been  doing  the  pioneer  work. 
The  success  of  the  courses  which  have  been  offered  and  the 
demand  for  technically  educated  men  for  subordinate  and 
secondary  positions  have  fully  demonstrated  that  Secon- 
dary Technical  Education  in  Mining  is  not  only  practical, 
but  necessary. 

The  state  institutions,  however,  require  support  from 
the  states  and  the  nation  so  that  the  men  desiring  a  secon- 
dary course  may  have  at  least  equal  advantage  with  the  col- 
lege man. 

The  American  Mining  Congress  is  in  a  position  to  exert 
influence  in  behalf  of  the  schools  offering  short  courses  in 
mining,  in  establishing  local  mining  institutes  and  in  es- 
tablishing state  mining  experiment  stations.  The  agricul- 
tural experiment  stations  receive  both  state  and  federal  sup- 
port; the  mining  experiment  stations  should  be  supported 
similarly.  The  Farmers'  Institutes  are  usually  supported 
by  the  states  in  which  they  are  held.  The  Legislature  of 
Missouri  makes  an  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dollars 
per  year  to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  for  this  purpose. 
The  Agricultural  College  helps  out,  by  supplying  lecturers 
in  the  person  of  its  teachers,  without  compensation,  the 
Board  of  Agriculture  bearing  their  traveling  expenses  to 
and  from  the  institutes.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  at 
Washington  details  some  of  its  officers  to  work  of  this  .sort, 
but  there  is  no  federal  appropriation  directly  for  this  pur- 
pose. 

With  additional  teaching  facilities  at  the  various  min- 
ing schools,  with  first-class  mining  clubs  and  mining  insti- 
tutes similar  to  the  Farmers'  Institutes  and  with  mining 
experiment  stations  in  each  mining  state,  Secondary  Techni- 
cal Education  can  be  much  more  effectively  applied  to 
mining. 


Relation  of  the  Mining  School  to  the  Mining  Industry 


BY  ROBERT  H.  RICHARDS,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

It  is  taken  for  granted  that  the  mining  industry  is  the 
chief  thing  and  that  the  school  exists  to  help  the  industry.  A 
difference  of  opinion  may  exist  as  to  how  this  should  be 
done. 

The  mineral  industry  has  such  a  strong  bearing  on  the 
welfare  of  the  community  that  it  is  well  to  dwell  upon  this 
relationship  a  moment  before  taking  up  the  main  thread. 

The  miner  brings  the  ores  to  the  surface,  the  smelter 
separates  the  metals,  metals  without  which  there  can  be 
no  advancement  in  the  community,  no  civilization.  What 
did  the  stone  age  man  have?  A  stone  hammer,  a  stone 
knife,  a  stone  arrow  head,  a  tent  of  skins.  He  had  advanced 
as  far  as  he  could  without  metals.  We  are  so  accustomed 
to  use  metals  and  articles  manufactured  of  metals  or  by 
means  of  them  that  we  do  not  think  of  the  immense  advance 
that  has  been  made  in  consequence  of  the  work  of  the  miner 
and  metallurgist,  and  of  the  wonderful  age  in  which  we 
live. 

If  we  look  about  this  room  every  metallic  object  in  sight 
has  been  made  from  ore  got  by  the  miner  and  refined  by 
the  smelter.  Every  object  in  wood,  glass,  pottery,  plaster, 
cement  or  other  material  than  metal  has  been  gathered, 
shaped  and  finished  by  tools  of  metal.  And  again,  the  busi- 
ness of  mining  and  metallurgy  furnishes  a  great  field  for 
gaining  a  livelihood.  Great  numbers  of  men  are  employed 
in  the  ranks  of  labor  and  of  the  skilled  mechanic,  consider- 
able numbers  also  in  engineering,  management,  financing 
of  mines,  also  the  mercantile  pursuits  to  furnish  supplies. 
Finally,  as  an  investment  of  funds,  the  successful  mine  is 
among  the  most  profitable  of  investments,  and  the  unsuc- 
cessful mines  may  be  no  worse  for  the  stockholder  than  the 
unsuccessful  rail  or  manufactory. 

The  points  of  contact  between  the  community  and  the 
mining  industry  are  then  varied  in  kind  and  many  in  num- 
ber. For  economy  in  the  world's  work,  for  best  results  in 
quickest  time,  all  forces  tending  toward  the  same  end 
should  work  in  harmony,  each  doing  its  own  part.  This  is 
the  case  with  the  mining  industry  and  the  mining  school. 
Mining  plants  should  be  ready  to  supply  certain  necessary 
experience  to  students  the  school  cannot  give.  Hence  the 
need  of  mine  practice.  It  cannot  do  the  whole  work  without 


186  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

great  waste  of  time.     Hence  the  need  of  school  training. 
There  should  be  a  cordial  relationship  between  school  and* 
mine. 

The  school  asks  the  mining  industry  to  take  its  pupils 
and  be  patient  with  them  for  a  little  time  until  they  acquire 
the  experience  with  men  in  command  and  men  employed, 
things  that  no  school  can  teach.  A  few  vacation  months  at 
a  mine,  mill  or  furnace  is ,  worth  a  great  deal  to  help  a 
student  appreciate  the  value  of  his  school  work,  to  clinch 
his  knowledge,  to  make  it  a  useful  tool,  and  work  off  his 
crudity. 

The  universal  verdict  is  that  a  student  leaving  a  school 
should  spend  a  year  or  more  at  work  at  mines  or  furnaces 
doing  laborer's  or  mechanic's  work.  He  not  only  gains  the 
knowledge  of  things  by  contact  which  the  school  failed  to 
give  him,  but  and  still  more  important,  he  gains  knowledge 
of  men.  A  man  to  direct  others  must  know  what  the  other 
man  is  thinking  of.  The  young  man  who  began  as  a  laborer 
knows  this  from  his  own  experience.  The  young  man  who 
did  not  so  begin,  is  at  a  great  disadvantage.  Therefore  we 
ask  the  works  and  mines  to  have  a  little  patience  with  the 
young  beginners  just  out  of  school.  Many  works  are  already 
doing  this  in  a  very  liberal  way,  and  I  wish  here  in  behalf 
of  the  schools  to  present  our  thanks  to  those  in  charge  of 
the  mining  industry  for  the  fine  way  they  are  doing  this. 
We  ask  further  that  those  in  charge  of  industry  forgive  the 
occasional  misfit  which  the  young  school  man  makes  and 
do  not  charge  off  his  misdemeanors  and  mistakes  as  a  uni- 
versal attribute  of  school  men. 

Besides  the  knowledge  of  things  by  contact  that  a 
student  can  learn  at  the  works,  the  sense  of  responsibility 
he  acquires  is  of  immense  value.  It  is  impossible  to  give  in 
the  school  the  sense  of  impending  fate  which  impresses  facts 
on  the  brain  in  mines  and  furnaces.  A  furnace  man  must 
get  his  300  tons  a  day  smelted  or  lose  his  job.  A  miner  must 
get  his  pump  running  in  three  hours  or  the  pump  will  be 
drowned,  and  the  mine  flooded.  This  kind  of  active  work 
and  experience  is  a  great  teacher. 

What  now  may  the  school  do  for  the  works  in  return  for 
favors  received?  Those  in  active  work  with  the  constant 
and  incessant  demands  upon  them  have  little  time  to  inves- 
tigate problems  and  to  seek  for  the  underlying  principles  on 
which  the  most  perfect  solution  may  depend,  or  to  find  what 
others  at  a  distance  are  doing  in  the  same  line,  and  if  they 
are  self-made  men,  they  are  probably  wise  in  experience, 
but  weak  in  mathematics.  In  most  mines  there  have  been 
short  periods  of  depression  because  of  failure  to  grasp.some 


RELATION  OF  MINING  SCHOOL  TO  THE  INDUSTRY.          187 

salient  point  which  a  trained  engineer  would  have  seen. 

The  school  teaches  the  alphabet  of  machinery  and  pro- 
cesses of  fundamental  knowledge  just  as  useful  here  as  the 
real  alphabet  is  in  working  out  words  in  a, dictionary.  The 
mining  school  cannot  give  the  experience,  but  can  give  the 
training  in  mathematics,  physics,  chemistry  and  drawing, 
and  it  can  give  the  pupil  access  to  the  accumulated  fund  of 
professional  methods  of  all  time.  This  leads  us  up  to  the 
school's  main  duty  to  the  mines  and  works.  If  a  school 
can  inspire  enthusiasm  for  ,the  profession  in  its  pupils  and 
can  bring  the  pupils  to  the  point  where  they  have  love  of 
knowledge,  love  of  accuracy,  love  of  industry,  it  has  led  its 
pupils  to  a  point  where  they  are  ripe  to  become  engineers, 
for  they  will  be  naturally  seeking  problems  to  solve  and 
solving  problems  when  found,  problems  in  excavating,  in 
sorting,  in  tramming,  in  hoisting,  in  dealing  with  men, 
problems  in  moving  materials,  in  concentrating  ores,  in 
economy  of  waste,  in  retreating  waste,  in  dealing  with  the 
markets,  in  handling  the  property  to  the  advantage  of  the 
owners,  and  indirectly,  of  the  community. 

The  student  must  acquire  a  love  of  knowledge,  a  love 
of  accuracy  and  a  love  of  industry.  We  expect  the  school 
to  develop  this  in  him.  How  can  the  school  do  this?  It 
can  only  do  it  by  making  the  problems  the  school  sets  before 
the  pupil  real,  live,  interesting  ones.  A  real  problem  as  new 
to  the  teacher  as  to  the  pupil  has  the  greatest  power  to 
awaken  enthusiasm  in  the  pupils.  Every  small  problem 
solved  in  the  school  laboratory  whets  the  appetites  for 
greater  ones  in  the  field. 

The  school  has  to  make  things  real  to  most  of  its  pupils 
who  have  never  seen  a  mine.  The  pupil  who  goes  to  the 
school  from  the  mining  region  while  he  is  an  apt  pupil  and 
interested  in  the  profession,  he  is  unbalanced  by  giving 
more  value  to  the  details  in  his  own  district  than  to  funda- 
mental principles.  He  must  be  balanced  up  by  showing  him 
the  value  of  fundamental  principles  and  the  differing  prac- 
tice of  other  districts.  The  school  must  be  so  organized  to 
help  both  kinds  of  students.  One  of  the  best  things  the 
mines  and  works  can  do  for  the  schools  is,  when  the  teachers 
bring  their  students  on  visits,  let  the  teachers  know  some 
of  the  real  problems  the  profession  is  struggling  with  so 
the  teachers  can  get  into  the  spirit  of  the  game,  and  carry 
back  problems  to  work  over  at  the  school,  thus  getting 
inspiration  for  their  work  which  they  pass  on  to  their 
students.  Furnish  them  specimens,  samples,  drawings, 
photos.  Students  become  immensely  interested  in  actual 


188  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

needs  if  something  they  do  is  going  to  count.    It  makes  the 
profession  real,  a  living  interest  to  them. 

The  school  contributes  to  the  success  of  the  mining 
industry,  the  mining  industry  is  vital  to  the  success  of  the 
community,  and  therefore  the  community  must  support  the 
mining  school. 


Some  Suggestions  Concerning  the  Training  of  Mining  Engineers 


BY   ROBERT   PEELE,    NEW   YORK    CITY. 

For  some  years  past  the  subject  of  engineering  educa- 
tion lias  received  much  attention  from  both  teachers  in  tech- 
nical schools  and  practicing  engineers.  Many  able  and 
illuminating  papers  have  appeared  in  the  transactions  of 
technical  societies  and  the  engineering  press.  The  authors 
cf  some  of  these  papers  have  dealt  with  questions  relating 
to  preparatory  training  for  the  engineering  schools;  others 
with  questions  as  to  what  subjects  should  be  comprised  in 
the  course  of  study  and  the  best  methods  of  teaching.  There 
have  been  lengthy  discussions  concerning  how  much  and 
what  kinds  of  practical  instruction  and  laboratory  work 
should  be  given  in  the  schools,  and  whether  these  should 
precede,  accompany  or  follow,  the  presentation  of  the 
theory. 

The  subject  is  of  the  greatest  interest  to  engineers  and 
employers  as  well  as  to  instructors  and  pupils  of  the  schools. 
As  might  be  anticipated  there  is  considerable  diversity  in 
the  opinions  that  have  been  expressed.  These  differences 
of  opinion,  however,  are  unimportant  as  regards  instruction 
in  the  fundamental  subjects,  such  as  mathematics,  physics, 
mechanics,  chemistry,  draughting,  etc.  They  are  noticeable 
chiefly  in  discussions  as  to  the  character  of  the  training  in 
the  later  years  of  the  course  of  study;  and  to  what  extent  it 
is  feasible  or  desirable  to  introduce  into  the  curriculum  such 
practical  work  as  might  materially  shorten  the  young  engi- 
neer's novitiate,  by  bridging  over  the  often  unprodctive  pe- 
riod intervening  between  the  completion  of  his  school  train- 
ing and  the  time  when  he  shall  have  really  become  fitted  to 
assume  his  place  as  a  capable  practitioner.  An  urgent 
insistence  upon  the  necessity  of  making  the  course  of  study 
as  practical  as  possible  comes  not  only  from  managers  of 
works,  but  also  from  the  older  engineers,  to  whose  lot 
usually  falls  the  duty  of  imparting  to  their  young  brothers 
post-graduate  instruction  in  field  methods. 

Graduates  of  engineering  schools  are  but  the  partly 
elaborated  raw  material  from  wrhich  engineers  are  devel- 
oped and  many  find  themselves  unable  at  first  to  grapple 
successfully  with  the  practical  details  of  their  profession. 
The  fault  is  usually  laid  at  the  door  of  the  schools  them- 
selves, on  the  kind  of  instruction  given  in  them  and  the 
shortcomings  of  the  members  of  the  teaching  staff.  But 


190  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

this  view  does  not,  I  think,  cover  the  ease.  There  are  just 
as  great  differences  in  the  mental  characteristics  of  the 
crowds  of  young  men,  who  every  year  besiege  the  schools 
for  admittance,  as  among  those  who  strive  to  enter  any 
other  professional  or  business  career.  Some  choose  a  course 
in  engineering  not  only  because  they  are  thoroughly  in 
earnest  but  also  because  they  have  exhibited  a  genuine 
aptitude  for  it;  others  drift  in,  with  no  particular  bent  or 
inclination  for  engineering  studies;  while  a  few  enter 
against  their  wills,  at  the  desire  of  their  parents. 

During  the  first  year  or  two  of  the  course  a  weeding  out 
process  eliminates  some  of  the  poorer  students,  who  are 
mentally  inferior  or  who  neglect  their  work.  But  this  process 
of  natural  selection  is  often  stifled,  or  at  least  not  allowed 
sufficient  freedom  to  work  its  results.  If  untrammelled  or 
actually  assisted  in  its  operation,  an  improvement  in  the 
average  quality  of  engineering  graduates  would  be  brought 
about.  It  should  be  part  of  the  duty  of  each  instructor  to 
observe  the  capabilities  of  the  students  under  his  charge; 
to  encourage  where  encouragement  ought  to  be  given,  and 
to  dissuade  some  from  attempting  to  pursue  farther  a  career 
for  which  they  appear  to  be  unfitted.  I  am  aware  that  this 
is  a  difficult  function  to  fulfill,  especially  because,  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year,  or  even  the  second,  the  student  may  not 
yet  have  "found  himself." 

A  young  man  who  has  entered  an  engineering  school 
may  be  an  earnest  student,  and  still  lack  the  particular 
aptitudes  necessary  in  an  engineer.  He  may  be  able  to  pass 
a  satisfactory  examination  in  theoretical  chemistry,  without 
possessing  the  qualities  essential  to  success  in  the  quanti- 
tative laboratory;  he  may  be  a  neat  and  accurate  draughts- 
man and  yet  find  difficulty  in  applying  the  laws  of  mechan- 
ics and  of  resistance  of  materials  to  the  simplest  problem  in 
machine  design,  having  an  imperfect  conception  of  the 
proper  proportions  and  inter-relations  of  parts;  though 
excellent  in  analytical  geometry  and  the  calculus,  he  may 
yet  be  deficient  in  common  sense  without  which  none  can 
hope  to  become  a  successful  engineer.  Nevertheless,  grant- 
ing the  difficulty  of  giving  the  doubtful  student  sound 
advice  in  so  important  a  matter,  affecting  as  it  would  his 
whole  future  life,  much  might  be  done  by  a  wise  interfer- 
ence before  it  is  too  late  to  avert  serious  discouragement 
and  disappointment. 

Two  further  considerations  are:*  The  unfavorable  effect 
on  the  morale  of  the  body  of  students  in  a  class,  produced 
by  the  incompetency  and  lack  of  interest  of  even  a  few; 
and  the  waste  of  the  instructor's  time  and  energy  in 


TRAINING  OP  MINING  ENGINEERS.  1^1 

endeavor  to  keep  poor  students  up  to  their  work.  Poor 
students  require  far  more  help  and  attention  than  good 
ones,  and  the  instructor's  efficiency  is  wrongfully  reduced 
by  having  to  push  the  unwilling  or  incompetent  to  a  grad- 
uation which  may  barely  escape  failure.  An  adverse  ele- 
ment of  the  problem  of  dealing  with  students  of  this  kind 
is  the  desire  of  every  school — of  both  governing  board  and 
teaching  staff — for  large  enrollments.  The  privilege  of 
showing  each  year  a  gain  in  numbers  is  sometimes  consid- 
ered of  more  importance  than  evidence  of  improvement  in 
the  quality  of  the  graduates. 

-L  The  first  year  curriculum  in  many  engineering  schools 
is  substantially  the  same,  irrespective  of  the  branch  of 
engineering  taught.  In  a  few,  where  several  courses  are 
maintained,  leading  to  different  degrees,  the  first  year  stu- 
dies are  identical,  or  nearly  so,  for  all  the  courses,  whether 
civil,  electrical,  mechanical  or  mining  engineering.  In  these 
cases,  marked  differentiation  of  the  courses  begins  with  .the 
second  year,  the  divergence  becoming  greater  and  greater  in 
the  subsequent  years. 

Our  practice  in  the  mining  schools  of  this  country  is  to 
take  the  graduate  of  the  high  school  or  preparatory  school, 
at  the  age  of  17  (preferably  18)  years,  and  give  him  four 
years  more  work  in  those  branches  of  study  that  experience 
has  indicated  to  be  essential  or  desirable  in  the  training  of 
the  mining  engineer.  The  greater  part  of  the  first  three 
years  is  devoted  to  mathematics,  mechanical  draughting, 
physics,  chemistry,  geology,  mineralogy,  surveying,  etc., 
together  with  certain  civil,  electrical  and  mechanical  engin- 
eering subjects,  all  with  their  accompanying  laboratory 
work.  Generally,  some  of  the  elementary  mining  courses 
are  given  in  the  third  year,  but  most  of  the  mining  and 
metallurgical  work  falls  in  the  last  year,  together  with  the 
advanced  subjects  of  the  other  engineering  branches.  The 
distinctly  mining  courses  occupy  say  one-third  of  the  lec- 
ture recitation  hours  of  the  third  year,  and  form  one-half 
to  two  thirds  of  the  hours  in  the  fourth  year.  About  three- 
quarters  of  the  total  afternon  hours  of  the  fourth  year  are 
usually  occupied  by  laboratory  work  in  ore-dressing,  metal- 
lurgy, mining  design  and  to  mining  thesis  or  project  work. 

In  the  best  equipped  mining  schools  a  large  part  of  the 
first  two  vacations  is  devoted  to  field  surveying,  lasting,  say 
twelve  to  fourteen  weeks.  Some  time  in  the  second  vacation 
may  be  given  also  to  field  work  in  geology  and  at  mines  and 
metallurgical  works.  The  last  vacation  is  taken  up  mainly 
by  study  or  w^ork  in  the  mines,  to  which  may  be  added  sev- 
eral weeks  more  of  field  geology  and  visits  to  metallurgical 


192  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

a n(l  ore-dressing  works.  The  periods  available  for  these 
branches  of  field  study  usually  range  in  the  aggregate  from 
eight  to  ten  weeks.  In  many  schools  the  laboratory  work 
of  different  kinds,  including  draughting  and  engineering 
design,  occupies  all  the  afternoons  of  the  week  except  Sat- 
urday. In  some  Saturday  afternoon  is  also  utilized.  Nearly 
all  of  the  preparation  for  recitations,  and  the  study  of  lec- 
ture notes  with  collateral  reading,  must  therefore  be  done 
in  the  evenings. 

It  is  generally  recognized  that  the  course  of  study  lead- 
ing to  the  degree  of  Mining  Engineer  is  broader  than  that 
for  the  other  engineering  branches,  in  that  it  must  contain 
a  greater  variety  of  subjects  and  in  this  sense  cover  more 
ground.  This  very  fact  would  seem  to  militate  against  thor- 
oughness of  instruction  in  each  of  the  individual  subjects. 
Besides  the  mathematics,  natural  sciences  and  the  specific- 
ally mining  subjects,  instruction  must  be  given  to  a  limited 
extent  in  civil,  electrical  and  mechanical  engineering,  since 
all  of  these  have  their  part  in  the  equipment  and  operation 
of  mines  and  reduction  works.  Thus,  under  civil  engineer- 
ing would  fall  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Surveying,  includ- 
ing the  elements  of  Railroad  Surveying,  Resistance  or 
Strength  of  the  Materials  of  Engineering,  Graphic  Statics 
and  Hydraulics;  under  Electrical  Engineering,  the  Princi- 
ples and  Elements  of  the  Dynamo,  Direct  and  Alternating 
Current  Machinery,  Principles  of  Electro-Chemistry  and 
Electro-Metallurgy;  under  Mechanical  Engineering,  Me- 
chanical Draughting,  Engines  and  Boilers,  Engineering  of 
Power  Plants,  and  related  subjects. 

These  courses,  with  their  accompanying  laboratory 
work,  may  be  provided  for  in  two  ways,  according  as  the 
mining  school  stands  alone  as  an  independent  institution, 
or  forms  a  division  of  a  larger  organization,  such  as  a 
university  or  general  technological  institute. 

In  the  first  case,  the  maintenance  of  adequately  equipped 
departments  of  instruction  for  the  different  engineer- 
ing subjects  constitutes  a  serious  problem,  on  account  of 
the  large  first  cost  and  the  running  expenses  of  laboratories 
and  the  size  of  the  requisite  teaching  staff.  Not  all  of  the 
mining  schools  of  this  class,  therefore,  can  offer  efficient 
courses  in  these  allied  branches  of  engineering. 

In  the  second  case — as  in  some  of  the  best  and  most 
thoroughly  organized  institutions — the  mining  school  is  one 
of  a  group  of  technical  schools.  Each  school  has  the  equip- 
ment necessary  for  specializing  in  its  own  subjects  and  the 
mining  students  have  the  advantage  of  receiving  their 


TRAINING  OF  MINING  ENGINEERS.  193 

instruction  in  civil,  electrical  and  mechanical  engineering 
from  these  respective  schools  or  departments. 

Thus  the  system  of  instruction  as  it  actually  exists  in 
mining  schools  has  grown  up  under  several  influences,  such 
as:  the  mode  of  organization  and  size  of  the  school,  depend- 
ing largely  on  its  financial  support;  its  location,  whether 
in  a  mining  region,  or  at  a  distance  and  forming  part  of  a 
university  or  other  institution  with  an  extensive  equipment; 
lastly,  its  chosen  field,  that  is,  whether  the  instruction  is 
intended  to  include  only  the  subjects  most  closely*  related 
to  mining  and  metallurgy  or  whether  it  shall  afford  a 
broader  training,  in  which  the  fundamental  sciences  are 
more  emphasized,  in  preparation  for  and  relation  to,  the 
study  of  mining  engineering. 

With  this  brief  review  of  what  composes  a  course  of 
study  in  mining  engineering,  we  may  now  consider  the 
results  obtained,  and  inquire  as  to  how  far  the  schools  suc- 
ceed in  imparting  a  satisfactory  education.  It  is  evident  at 
the  outset  that  the  course  is  a  severe  one.  It  has  become 
so  gradually.  Twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago,  when  elec- 
trical engineering  as  a  study  was  barely  thought  of  and 
when  mechanical  engineering  was  far  less  developed  and 
specialized  than  now,  the  student  of  mining  was  not  bur- 
dened with  such  a  multiplicity  of  subjects.  A  larger  pro- 
portion of  the  work  in  and  about  mines  was  formerly  done 
by  manual  labor,  and  the  limited  variety  of  mining  and 
ore-dressing  machinery  made  the  equipment  and  operation 
of  mines  a  simpler  matter.  The  attention  of  the  student 
was  therefore  concentrated  in  a  narrower  field,  in  which 
more  thorough  work  could  be  done.  More  time  could  be 
given  to  chemistry,  physics,  mineralogy,  and  the  applica- 
tions of  these  sciences  to  mining,  metallurgy  and  ore-dress- 
ing. On  the  other  hand,  it  is  probable  that  the  graduate,  of 
that  period  had  less  grasp  of  the  practical  side  of  mining  as 
a  branch  of  engineering.  The  young  men  of  today  are  in 
constant,  though  often  unconscious,  touch  witn  the  multi- 
rude  of  mechanical  devices  which  play  their  part  in  our 
daily  life,  and  they  are  inevitably  brought  into  contact  in 
one  way  or  another  with  engineering  works  of  the  most 
varied  description:  all  of  which  cannot  fail  to  develop  the 
intelligence  of  things  practical. 

But  these  very  conditions  have  so  broadened  the  field 
of  study  that  the  customary  four  years7  course  is  in  danger 
of  being  over-crowded  in  the  effort  to  keep  abreast  with  the 
times.  If  the  student's  work  be  done  in  haste  and  under  a 
feeling  of  pressure,  his  mental  vision  for  the  time  being 
tends  to  become  restricted.  The  development  of  his  deliber- 


194  PROCEEDINGS   AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

aiive  faculties  may  be  impeded  by  living  too  much  iu  an 
atmosphere  of  facts,  for  the  proper  assimilation  and  ar- 
rangement of  which  he  has  insufficient  time.  In  presenting 
some  of  the  engineering  subjects  undue  prominence  may  be 
given  to  descriptions  of  methods  and  plant,  the  details  of 
which  vary  from  time  to  time  as  practice  changes  and 
advances,  and  too  little  to  principles  on  which  practice  is 
based.  The  teaching  of  facts  is  one  of  the  lower  functions 
of  the  instructor,  and  when  it  is  done  without  impressing 
upon  the  student  the  reasons  for  the  existence  of  these  facts 
and  their  relations  to  one  another,  the  chief  purpose  of  edu- 
cation are  only  partially  fulfilled. 

Undoubtedly  the  tendency  of  the  present  time  is  to 
consider  the  purely  utilitarian  aspect  of  technical  educa- 
tion as  first  in  importance.  The  student  himself  is  usually 
much  more  concerned  about  the  kind  of  position  he  will  be 
able  to  secure  after  he  graduates  and  the  salary  attached 
thereto,  than  about  the  character  of  the  training  that  will 
fit  him  satisfactorily  to  fulfill  the  requirements  of  that  posi- 
tion and  insure  a  larger  measure  of  success  in  after  life. 
Both  he  and  his  parents  look  forward  with  interest  to  the 
time  when  he  shall  be  able  to  pay  his  own  way.  Nothing 
is  more  natural  than  this  point  of  view,  for  the  period  of 
education  is  long  and  its  cost  considerable.  But,  in  endeav- 
oring to  turn  out  graduates  who  shall  be  immediately  effi- 
cient as  engineers  and  capable  of  earning  good  salaries, 
there  is  danger  of  encroaching  too  much  on  that  portion  of 
the  four  years  which  should  be  devoted  to  a  sound  training 
in  those  subjects  which  underlie  all  engineering;  develop- 
ing the  student's  thinking  faculties  and  teaching  him  how 
to  apply  engineering  principles  to  the  solution  of  practical 
problems.  Mine  managers  and  others  who  employ  young 
graduates  have  in  a  measure  helped  to  bring  about  this 
condition,  by  expecting  to  much  from  the  four  years  of 
school  training.  Though  many  graduates  actually  do  meet 
the  requirements  in  a  surprisingly  efficient  manner,  the 
early  failures  are  numerous  enough  to  attract  attention  and 
arouse  criticism. 

One  reason  for  this  has  already  been  suggested.  The 
young  man  entering  the  schools,  though  of  all  sorts  and 
kinds,  in  their  physical  and  mental  capabilities,  are  driven 
through  the  course  of  study  at  the  same  speed  and  supplied 
with  the  same  routine  of  work.  Even  if  it  were  possible  so 
to  vary  the  system  of  training  as  to  adapt  it  to  each  individ- 
ual case,  there  would  still  be  some  failures,  A  uniform 
product  cannot  be  expected  from  heterogeneous  raw  mate- 
rial. The  exceptional  men,  who  are  naturally  able  and  well- 


TRAINING  OF  MI  N1NG  ENGINEERS.  195 

balanced  and  endowed  with  the  talent  of  common  sense, 
may  make  good  from  the  hour  of  their  entrance  into  the 
iield.  Others,  by  assuming  too  soon  positions  of  responsi- 
bility, attain  success  only  through  experience  born  of  early 
failure.  Still  others,  slower  in  their  development,  advance 
steadily  after  graduation,  gaining  experience  in  subordinate 
positions,  learning  to  manage  men,  and  so  achieve  substan- 
tial progress  by  the  time  they  have  been  out  of  school  a  few 
years.  There  are  also  the  "round  pegs  in  the  square  holes;" 
young  men  who  are  unfitted  for  any  engineering  profession 
and  who,  long  before  graduation,  should  have  been  directed 
into  a  more  suitable  career. 

If  we  are  justified  in  attempting  to  turn  out  ready- 
made  engineers,  the  present  methods  are  not  far  wrong. 
The  large  amount  of  laboratory  practice,  and  the  vacation 
work  and  study  in  mines  which  have  proved  to  be  such 
valuable  features  of  the  course,  do  much  toward  familiar- 
izing the  student  with  the  practical  aspects  of  his  profes- 
sion. It  may  be  objected  thtat  the  time  allotted  to  the  sum- 
mer class  in  the  mines,  as  already  outlined,  is  too  short  to 
be  of  much  benefit.  Experience  shows,  however,  that  a 
great  deal  is  accomplished  if  this  work  be  properly  syste- 
matized under  competent  advice  and  supervision.  The 
insight  into  actual  practice  become  valuable  immediately 
after  graduation,  as  well  as  during  the  last  year  of  school 
work. 

But  may  it  not  be  that  more  is  attempted  in  other  parts 
of  the  course  than  can  reasonably  be  carried  out?  While 
recognizing  the  usefulness  of  the  mining  school,  which  has 
been  so  fully  demonstrated  that  its  graduates  are  every- 
where in  demand,  we  should  also  concede  its  limitations. 
The  schools  can  and  do  give  young  men  a  great  advantage 
over  those  not  possessing  such  training  and  who  have  at 
their  command  only  what  has  come  within  their  own  per- 
sonal experience.  The  student  of  mining  becomes  familiar 
with  many  resources  of  information  which  to  the  practical 
man  are  unknown  and  therefore  not  available.  But  the 
schools  cannot  teach  common  sense,  nor  impart  the  invalu- 
able faculty  of  controlling  men  and  of  knowing  how  to  do 
work  efficiently  and  economically.  A  not  uncommon  fault 
among  young  graduates  js  to  consider  themselves  compe- 
tent engineers,  while  still  lacking  tlie  experience  that  is  in- 
dispensable in  developing  maturity  of  judgment. 

The  tendency  to  over-crowd  the  course  of  study,  caused 
largely  by  the  rapid  advances  in  every  branch  of  mining  and 
metallurgy,  creates  a  situation  difficult  to  deal  with.  If, 
while  still  retaining  the  advantages  accruing  from  fie!4 


196  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

work  and  study,  with  whatever  else  shall  aid  in  attaining  a 
clear  comprehension  of  the  application  of  principle  to  prac- 
tice, the  fundamental  aims  of  all  education  shall  also  be  sat- 
isfactorily fulfilled,  one  of  two  things  would  appear  to  be 
requisite:  either  to  lengthen  the  undergraduate  period,  or 
to  revise  the  curriculum,  as  it  now  exists  in  many  mining- 
schools. 

I  am  aware  that  any  proposal  to  lengthen  the  time 
would  meet  with  serious  opposition.  Four  years  of  well- 
directed  work  should  be  sufficient  to  start  a  man  in  any 
branch  of  engineering.  By  prolonging  the  period  of  pre- 
paration there  is  danger  that  the  student  will  become  "over- 
trained" and  less  able  to  adapt  himself  to  the  new  condi- 
tions which  will  face  him  in  the  field.  While  in  the  school, 
his  sense  of  engineering  perspective  remains  only  partly 
developed,  so  that  he  is  apt  to  assign  undue  importance  to 
relatively  trivial  details.  The  cultivation  of  sound,  inde- 
pendent judgment  and  self-reliance  in  attacking  practical 
problems,  must  be  acquired  in  the  field,  when  the  young 
engineer  is  in  contact  with  actual  engineering  conditions. 

Rather  than  advocate  the  adoption  of  a  longer  course  I 
would  suggest  as  a  remedy  for  the  conditions  outlined  that 
the  list  of  studies  now  prescribed  in  those  schools  which, 
largely  because  of  the  demands  of  both  employers  and  stu- 
dents, have  become  most  highly  developed  in  specialized 
work,  be  carefully  weighed  and  examined,  with  the  object 
of  eliminating  possible  non-essentials.  Every  well-organ- 
ized, progressive  mining  school  finds  it  necessary  from  time 
to  time  to  revise  and  readjust  its  curriculum,  but  probably 
still  more  might  be  done  to  reduce  the  tendency  to  excessive 
specialization.  If  the  fundamental  science  subjects  be  not 
mastered  in  thev  school,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  they 
will  never  be  mastered  in  after  life.  It  is  quite  possible 
that  a  part  of  the  work  now  carried  on  in  the  school  could 
well  be  postponed  until  after  graduation.  A  thorough  drill 
in  principles,  developing  scientific  habits  of  thought,  will 
carry  the  student  farther  as  an  engineer  than  if,  while 
devoting  less  time  to  these,  he  had  been  led  to  give  more 
attention  to  the  changeable  details  of  practice;  for,  while 
still  an  undergraduate,  his  acquaintance  with  the  latter 
will  at  best  be  superficial  and  his  ideas  often  distorted. 

In  offering  these  suggestions,  I  would  not  for  a  moment 
advocate  the  abandonment  of  the  vacation  study  and  obser- 
vation in  the  mines.  They  are  of  the  utmost  importance 
in  leading  the  student  to  a  better  comprehension  of  the 
relations  to  practice  of  the  subjects  taught  in  the  school  and 
in  arousing  and  sustaining  interest  in  his  work.  We  do  not 


TRAINING  OF  MINING  ENGINEERS.  197 

want  to  turn  out  purely  theoretical  men,  for  there  is  no 
demand  for  them.  Theory  must  be  so  supplemented  by 
practice  as  to  prepare  the  student  for  efficient,  productive 
service,  early  in  his  career.  But  the  fundamental  scientific 
subjects  too  often  rest  under  an  implied  stigma  in  being 
characterized  as  "mere  theory,"  to  be  later  set  aside  or 
superseded  by  something  useful,  called  "practice."  Prac- 
tice illustrates  principles.. 

The  theoretical  studies  in  themselves  contain  the  ele- 
ments of  all  engineering,  and  the  broader  the  educational 
foundation  into  which  they  enter  as  essential  constituents, 
the  more  effective  will  be  the  student's  life  training  in  his 
chosen  field.  It  should  be  observed,  however,  that  mathe- 
matics and  the  natural  sciences  must  be  so  taught  as  to 
show  the  student  of  engineering  that  for  him  they  are  not 
an  end,  but  a  means.  They  are  tools,  of  which  he  must  learn 
the  uses.  His  object  in  studying  them  is  totally  different 
from  that  of  the  student  who  aims  to  be  an  investigator  in 
some  one  of  the  sciences. 

These  problems  of  modern  engineering  education  I 
believe  to  belong  peculiarly  to  our  mining  schools,  because 
of  the  diversity  of  the  subjects  taught  in  them  and  the 
exacting  nature  of  the  curriculum.  To  study  the  question 
carefully,  as  it  so  well  deserves,  and  to  endeavor  to  improve 
our  methods  of  instruction,  while  still  meeting  the  imme- 
diate demands  made  on  the  young  graduate,  falls  to  the 
administrative  and  teaching  staffs  of  the  mining  schools. 
But  mine  managers,  engineers  and  other  employers  of  the 
graduates  of  these  schools,  who  are  certainly  not  less  inter- 
ested, can  do  much  toward  assisting  the  solution. 

With  the  development  of  the  technical  school,  the  old 
system  of  apprenticeship  for  engineers  in  engineering 
offices,  formerly  in  vogue  chiefly  in  Europe,  has  almost  dis- 
appeared. It  was  wasteful  of  time  and  is  no  longer  neces- 
sary. In  recent  years,  however,  another  kind  of  apprentice- 
ship has  grown  up  in  many  mechanical  and  electrical  engi- 
neering works,  in  manufacturing  establishments  and  in  the 
shops  of  some  leading  railroad  companies,  and  it  suggests 
a  possible. method  of  dealing  with  the  conditions  herein 
presented.  Among  the  prominent  concerns  first  to  intro- 
duce this  new  system  were  the  Westinghouse  and  General 
Electric  companies  and  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

The  object  of  the  system  is  to  fit  graduates  of  colleges 
and  technical  schools  for  filling  responsible  positions  in  the 
engineering  or  operating  departments  of  the  works.  The 
young  men  are  taken  into  the  shops  on  the  same  footing  as 
the  skilled  mechanics,  except  as  to  salary.  This  is  small  at 


198  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

first,  with  increases  at  stated  intervals,  or  according  to 
progress  made,  which  is  closely  watched  by  foremen  and 
superintendents.  The  course  of  training  lasts  several  years, 
each  apprentice  being  moved  systematically  through  the 
different  departments  of  the  works,  in  order  to  gain  a  com- 
prehensive knowledge  of  the  whole.  They  are  not  expected 
to  acquire  sufficient  skill  in  any  one  branch  to  compete  with 
the  journeyman  machinist  or  electrical  worker,  but  rathei* 
to  become  familiar  with  shop  methods  and  operations;  to 
learn  what  constitutes  a  day's  work  and  whether  that  work 
is  good  or  bad. 

Notwithstanding  the  material  differences  between  the 
conditions  existing  in  mines  and  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, it  is  possible  that  such  a  system  in  some  modified 
form  might  be  introduced  for  graduates  of  mining  schools. 
During  the  past  fourteen  years,  in  taking  classes  of  students 
into  the  field  each  summer,  to  study  in  the  mines,  I  have 
found  managers  and  superintendents  in  nearly  every  case 
interested  in  the  students'  work,  as  Avell  as  cordial  and  help- 
ful in  extending  the  privileges  necessary  for  carrying"  on 
that  work.  But  any  plan  for  post-graduate  training  should 
be  adopted  with  caution.  To  secure  the  best  results  the 
young  engineer  must  stand  convinced  of  his  personal 
responsibility.  He  must  enter  the  mine  or  works  with  the 
realization  that  he  is  to  be  neither  nursed  nor  favored,  that 
his  future  depends  wholly  on  himself.  If  rightly  under- 
stood, a  plan  of  this  kind  might  be  made  of  advantage  to 
both  employer  and  young  engineer. 

The  writer  of  this  paper  refrains  at  this  time  from  mak- 
ing any  specific  suggestions  as  to  changes  in  curriculum  or 
the  proportionate  time  to  be  given  to  each  kind  of  work 
entering  into  the  training  of  the  mining  engineering  stu- 
dent. Having  had  experience  himself  both  in  field  practice 
and  in  teaching,  he  believes  that  useful  conclusions  can  be 
reached  and  definite  recommendations  made,  only  after 
detailed  study  and  thorough  discussion  of  the  subject. 


The  Value  of  Correspondence  Instruction  to  the  Mining  Man 


BY  H.  H.  STOEK,  EDITOR  MINES  AND  MINERALS,  SCRANTON, 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

Origin  of  Correspondence  Instruction  in  America. 

The  expression  "this  enterprise  was  started  in  answer 
to  a  distinct  need  and  fills  a  long  felt  want"  is  very  much 
overworked  nowadays.  There  is,  however,  probably  no  bet- 
ter example  of  an  undertaking  started  to  supply  a  distinct 
demand  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  beginning  of  the  system  of 
teaching  mining  by  correspondence  in  the  United  States. 

In  1885  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  revised  its  mine  laws 
and  in  the  revision  there  was  incorporated  a  provision  that 
mine  foremen  and  fire  bosses  must  hold  certificates  of  com- 
petency based  upon  an  examination  in  technical  mining 
subjects. 

At  that  time  Mr.  T.  J.  Foster  was  editor  of  the  Mining 
Herald  in  Shenandoah,  Pa,,  and  an  examination  of  the  files 
of  that  paper  for  some  years  prior  to  and  succeeding  the 
year  1885  and  of  the  Mining  Pocket  Books  published  under 
the  same  auspices  discloses  the  germ  of  correspondence  in- 
struction. Technical  articles  were  printed  in  the  Mining 
Herald,  written  by  well  known  engineers,  such  as  C.  M. 
Percy  from  England  and  others.  These  articles  were  in- 
tended to  assist  the  ambitious  and  studious  men  about  the 
mines,  and  after  the  passage  of  the  law  of  1885  they  were 
especially  designed  for  those  wishing  to  fit  themselves  to 
pass  the  state  examinations  prescribed  by  the  law  of  1885. 
In  1887  the  Mining  Herald,  which  had  been  a  weekly  news- 
paper with  a  technical  mining  department  was  changed  to 
The  Colliery  Engineer,  a  distinctly  technical  mining  publi- 
cation, Mr.  R.  J.  Foster  then  becoming  associated  as  one  of 
the  editors.  The  headquarters  were  moved  to  Scranton, 
Pa.,  in  1888.  The  correspondence  columns  of  the  journal 
were  thrown  open  especially  to  all  persons  desiring  to  pre- 
pare themselves  for  state  examinations,  and  such  persons 
were  urged  to  ask  questions,  or  to  answer  such  questions  as 
were  asked  by  others  upon  any  subjects  pertaining  to  min- 
ing, the  questions  and  answers  being  published  each  month 
in  the  paper.  This  feature  of  the  paper  was  so  popular  that 
it  soon  became  apparent  that  this  medium  alone  could  not 
supply  the  instruction  and  assistance  needed  in  connec- 
tion with  the  state  mining  examinations.  Consequently, 


200  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

in  August,  1891,  the  Colliery  Engineer  Company  began 
the  preparation  of  leaflets  for  the  use  of  men  studying  to 
pass  the  examinations  for  foremen,  assistant  foreman,  and 
fire  boss.  The  subjects  of  these  leaflets  were  Mine  Survey- 
ing, Mine  cases,  Ventilation,  Mining  Methods,  Mine  Ma- 
chinery, etc. 

Preparation  of  Mining  Text  Books. 

The  choice  of  the  foundation  upon  which  the  whole 
superstructure  of  correspondence  instruction  has  been 
reared  showed  remarkable  foresight  and  a  keen  appre- 
ciation of  the  whole  problem  of  industrial  education.  This 
foundation  may  be  said  to  be  the  furnishing  of  highly  spec- 
ialized text  books  adapted  for  study  without  the  assistance 
of  a  teacher. 

The  course  of  study  is  adapted  to  any  person,  no  matter 
how  limited  his  preliminary  education,  providing  he  can 
read  and  write;  consequently,  it  begins  with  elementary 
arithmetic  and  advances  step  by  step  through  the  other 
branches  of  elementary  mathematics  such  as  Algebra, 
Geometry  and  Trigonometry,  each  step  being  completed  be- 
fore the  next  is  taken.  The  idea  of  a  complete  course  in 
mathematics,  looked  upon  as  a  mental  training,  has  been 
cast  aside  as  requiring  more  time  than  the  student  by  cor- 
respondence can  ordinarily  give;  only  such  essential  steps 
in  the  mathematical  ladder  have  been  selected  as  are 
needed  to  understand  the  higher  branches  of  technical 
knowledge. 

No  attempt  has  been  made. to  adapt  ordinary  textbooks 
to  correspondence  instruction,  but  special  books  have  been 
prepared,  designedly  different  from  other  technical  books  in 
being  every  day  working  books. 

These  two  fundamental  principles,  namely,  simplifica- 
tions of  the  courses  so  that  they  can  be  studied  by  any  one 
who  can  read  and  write,  and  the  preparation  of  suitable 
books,  have  been  strictly  adhered  to  in  all  of  the  later  devel- 
opment of  the  International  Correspondence  Schools,  and 
they  form  undoubtedly  the  strongest  elements  in  its  success 
as  an  educational  institution.  Every  student  receives  the 
lesson  papers  to  be  studied  in  the  form  of  small  pamphlets, 
each  containing  about  fifty  pages  so  that  he  can  carry  his 
lesson  in  his  pocket  with  him  wherever  he  goes,  and  many 
a  man  in  mine  or  mill  uses  his  noon  time  or  smoke  time 
during  the  day  in  study.  In  addition  to  these  pamphlet  les- 
sons papers  each  student  receives  what  is  called  a  reference 
library  which  consists  of  a  duplicate  set  of  all  the  lesson 
papers,  systematically  arranged,  indexed  and  bound  in  half 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  201 

leather.  This  gives  him  a  mining  library  for  constant  refer- 
ence, and  investigation  has  shown  that  probably  25  per 
cent,  of  those  who  enroll  as  students  use  their  books  at 
home  without  sending  in  any  written  work  to  the  schools. 
The  great  and  permanent  value  of  this  wide  dissemination 
of  mining  literature  is  apparent;  and  if  correspondence  in- 
struction had  done  nothing  else  for  the  mining  world  than 
to  distribute  throughout  the  entire  mining  world  about  100,- 
000  bound  volumes  of  the  highest  type  of  mining  literature 
and  an  equal  amount  of  mining  literature  in  pamphlet  form, 
its  inauguration  would  have  been  worth  while. 

Since  its  incorporation  the  International  Textbook 
Company  has  spent  over  $1,500,000  in  preparing  its  books, 
and  each  year  spends  large  amounts  in  preparing  new  books 
and  in  revising  and  perfecting  the  old  ones. 

The  exact  effect  of  this  literature  is  indeterminate, 
since  it  is  used  not  only  by  the  original  purchaser,  but 
since  it  is  now  found  in  practically  all  of  the  leading  librar- 
ies in  the  United  States,  it  has  become  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  greatest  factors  in  connection  with  technical  edu- 
cation in  the  United  States.  Some  of  the  principal  librar- 
ians in  such  industrial  centers  as  Pittsburg  report  that  the 
books  published  by  the  International  Textbook  Company 
are  more  used  by  the  working  classes  than  any  other  techni- 
cal books  upon  their  shelves.  Until  the  mining  books  of 
the  International  Textbook  Company  were  put  upon  the 
market  most  of  our  mining  literature  for  instructional  pur- 
poses was  of  English  origin  and  therefore  distinctly  un- 
American.  No  one  knowrs  this  better  than  those  who  have 
attempted  to  carry  on  classes  in  mining,  for  then  work  was 
rendered  very  difficult  because  there  were  no  suitable  text 
books,  and  the  lecture  system,  which  is  bad  enough  for  col- 
legiate work,  is  absolutely  unsuitable  for  elementary  work 
and  secondary  education  such  as  is  required  by  most  of  the 
students  of  mining  by  the  correspondence  method. 

Inspiration  Advertising. 

Another  distinctive  feature  of  the  correspondence  sys- 
tem as  worked  out  under  Mr.  Foster's  general  direction  is 
what  he  calls  inspirational  advertising,  that  is,  convincing 
the  masses  of  people  that  they  need  education  and  that 
they  can  secure  it  in  their  homes  without  giving  up  their 
daily  occupation.  In  this  way  the  technical  school  room 
has  been  brought  to  the  home  just  as  surely  as  general 
news  is  brought  there  by  the  newspapers.  A  distinct  ad- 
vance has  thus  been  made  in  the  educational  scheme  and  a 
gap  which  formerly  existed  has  been  bridged. 


202  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

One  of  the  strongest  features  of  correspondence  instruc- 
tion is  the  very  feature  which  for  many  years  made  it  unat- 
tractive in  the  eyes  of  educators,  that  is,  its  commercial 
side,  by  which  we  mean  not  because  it  is  operated  as  a 
business,  for  private  schools,  academies,  etc.,  are  operated 
in  the  same  way,  but  because  one  of  the  strongest  argu- 
ments urged  for  getting  an  education  was  the  financial  bet- 
terment to  be  expected  as  the  result  of  this  education.  The 
securing  of  an  education  simply  for  the  sake  of  being  edu- 
cated is  an  excellent  theoretical  idea,  but  the  securing  of 
that  particular  specialized  brand  of  education  that  makes  ii 
possible  for  a  man  to  increase  his  earnings  is  a  more  dis- 
tinctly American  idea. 

In  general  about  25  per  cent,  of  the  enrollments  taken 
by  the  International  Correspondence  Schools  are  secured 
in  response  to  the  natural  demand  for  educational  books 
and  for  a  bettter  education.  About  75  per  cent,  comes  from 
the  "men  from  Missouri"  who  must  "be  shown"  before  they 
take  up  educational  work.  One  of  the  greatest  accomplish- 
ments of  correspondence  instruction  and  one  but  little  ap- 
preciated is  undoubtedly  the  inspiration  it  has  given  to 
careless  or  indifferent  persons,  by  first  arousing  their  am- 
bition, then  by  inspiring  them  with  self-confidence  so  that 
they  are  fitted  for  better  things,  and  by  furnishing  the 
means  for  satisfying  this  ambition.  Only  a  small  portion 
of  those  enrolled  for  correspondence  instruction  comes  from 
the  educated  or  cultured  classes,  for  the  only  qualification 
is  an  ability  to  read  and  write  English,  and  indeed  many 
of  the  foreign  population  have  started  before  they  could 
understand  and  read  English  with  any  facility,  and  have 
gained  their  knowledge  of  the  English  language  largely 
through  correspondence  study. 

The  fact  that  three-fourths  of  the  men  who  take  up 
correspondence  work  must  be  induced  and  persuaded  to  do 
so,  brings  out  an  ethical  side  of  such  instruction  which  is 
not  commonly  appreciated.  The  25  per  cent,  who  take  up 
correspondence  study  voluntarily  would  probably  devote  a 
similar  amount  of  time  to  studying  or  reading  of  some  kind. 
The  75  per  cent,  who  are  induced  to  undertake  such  study 
would  probably  not  employ  their  time  thus  usefully,  and 
large  numbers  of  them  would  undoubtedly  spend  the  even- 
ings in  the  saloons  and  gambling  dens. 

Mr.  T.  J.  Foster  in  his  Presidential  Address  at  the  Fif- 
teenth Anniversary  of  the  International  Correspondence 
Schools,  October,  1906,  said:  "If  Mr.  Carnegie  will  supple- 
ment his  magnificent  gift  for  libraries  by  establishing  a 


VALUE, OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  203 

foundation  to  provide  a  half  million  dollars  annually  to  be 
expended  in  advertising  the  benefits  of  education  and  the 
resources  of  his  libraries  he  will  be  surprised  by  the  great 
increase  in  the  number  using  his  libraries."  This  kind  of 
advertising  Mr.  Foster  has  aptly  named  "Inspirational  Ad- 
vertising." 

Mining  Courses  Offered  by  Correspondence. 

The  following  courses  in  Mining  are  offered  by  corres- 
pondence : 

Mining  Engineering,  including  Coal  Mining,  Metallifer- 
ous Mining  and  Metallurgy,  the  text  being  included  in  thir- 
teen volumes  of  approximately  600  pages  each  and  covering 
practically  every  phase  of  mining  knowledge. 

Complete  Coal  Mining  Course. — The  portion  of  the  gen- 
eral Mining  Engineering  Course  having  to  do  specifically 
with  coal  mining. 

Mine  Foreman's  Course. — An  abridgement  of  the  Com- 
plete Coal  Mining,  intended  for  those  who  wish  to  prepare 
especially  for  mine  foremen's  examinations. 

Fire  Bosses'  Course. — A  "still  further  abridgement  than 
the  Mine  Foreman's  Course  of  the  Complete  Coal  Mining 
Course,  intended  for  those  who  wish  to  pass  the  examina- 
tion for  fire  boss. 

Metal  Mining  Course. — That  portion  of  the  Mining  En- 
gineering Course  dealing  with  metalliferous  mining. 

Metal  Prospector's  Course. — An  abridgement  from  the 
Metal  Mining  Course. 

Mine  Surveying  and  Mapping  Course. — Designed  to 
give  full  instruction  for  one  working  on  a  mine  survey 
corps. 

Complete  Metallurgy  Course. — Contains  all  of  the  sub- 
jects pertaining  to  metalliferous  mining  from  the  Mining 
Engineering  Course. 

Hydro-metallurgy  Course. — An  abridged  Metallurgy 
Course. 

Smelting  Course. — An  abridged  Metallurgy  Course. 

Milling  Course. — An  abridged  Metallurgy  Course. 

Manufacture  of  Iron  and  Steel. — Includes  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  iron  and  steel  manufacture,  inorganic 
chemistry,  and  quantitative  analysis. 

Number  and  Occupation  of  Correspondence    Students    of   Mining. 

Since  October  16,  1891,  when  Thomas  Ooates  of  Ply- 
mouth, Pennsylvania,  enrolled  as  the  first  student  in  mining 
34,496  (October  7,  1907)  persons  have  taken  up  correspond- 
ence mining  courses,  scattered  through  every  state  and 


204  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

territory  in  the  United  States,  in  fact  in  practically  every 
country  of  the  world,  large  numbers  being  found  in  South 
Africa,  Australia  and  other  far-away  countries. 

In  the  various  courses  of  the  International  Correspond  - 
dence  Schools  50  per  cent,  or  more  of  the  scholarships  are 
sold  to  men  engaged  in  the  engineering  trades  or  profes- 
sions, some  of  whom  are  graduates  of  scientific  schools,  who 
buy  the  text  for  reference  purposes  because  they  are  con- 
cise, complete,  practical  and  thoroughly  well  indexed.  The 
success  of  correspondence  instruction  depends  in  great  part 
on  the  fact  that  it  is  primarily  utilitarian  and  secondarily 
educational  (as  the  word  education  is  commonly  employed). 
The  percentage  of  students  in  the  mining  courses  who  are 
already  connected  with  mining  is  probably  greater  than  50 
per  cent,  especially  in  the  Coal  Mining  courses,  since  the 
incentive  for  taking  these  courses  is  in  so  many  casesxthe 
desire  to  secure  a  state  certificate  of  competency,  and  these 
certificates  are  based  upon  a  term  of  service  in  the  mines  as 
well  as  upon  the  result  of  an  examination  upon  the  theory 
of  mining. 

There  are  many  students  who  are  connected  with  min- 
ing only  incidentally;  this  class  includes  brokers,  bankers, 
mining  investors  and  engineers  who  are  connected  with  op- 
erations allied  to  the  mining  industry.  This  class  of  stu- 
dents find  the  books  prepared  for  correspondence  study 
about  the  only  ones  available  for  their  use,  for  while  the 
books  are  distinctly  practical  and  technically  accurate,  the 
language  used  in  them  is  so  simple  that  they  can  be  under- 
stood by  the  layman  in  mining  matters  to  wrhom  the  special- 
ized books  on  geology,  metallurgy,  etc.,  are  usually  sealed 
volumes  on  account  of  their  extreme  specialization  and  ul- 
tra-technical language.  Again,  if  questions  arise  in  connec- 
tion with  the  contents  of  the  correspondence  school  books, 
the  student  has  a  right  to  ask  for  full  explanation,  a  privi- 
lege not  accompanying  the  purchase  of  an  ordinary  book. 

Results  of  Correspondence  Instruction. 

As  to  the  results  of  correspondence  instruction  in  gen- 
eral, up  to  October  1,  1907,  approximately  1,034,000  schol- 
arships had  been  sold  by  the  International  Correspondence 
Schools.  About  100,000  students  have  been  awarded  diplo- 
mas of  graduation  or  have  made  considerable  progress  in 
the  advanced  subjects  of  their  courses.  Approximately 
300,000  more  mathematics,  physics,  drawing  and  other  im- 
portant subjects,  while  several  hundred  thousand  others 
have  successfully  pursued  their  studies  by  means  of  Inter- 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  205 

national  Correspondence  Schools  text  books  without  send- 
ing in  exercises  for  correction.  During  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ing December  31,  1906,  there  were  corrected  772,481  exami- 
nation papers,  drawing  plates  and  language  records.  In 
connection  with  the  sale  of  these  scholarships  over  2,000,000 
bound  volumes  of  technical  literature  have  been  sent  out. 

Quoting  again  from  Mr.  Foster's  Presidential  Address, 
"It  is  much  easier  to  resolve  to  study  than  to  study,  and 
many  are  enrolled  who  do  not  become  students.  For  the 
man  who  agrees  to  study  and  pay,  and  does  not,  corre- 
spondence instruction  is  not  responsible.  About  two-thirds 
of  those  enrolled  pay  for  their  scholarships,  occupy  the 
status  of  a  matriculated  student  in  a  college  or  university, 
and  are  entitled  to  instruction.  Three  out  of  every  four  of 
these  are  benefited.  It  can  be  stated  definitely,  therefore, 
that  one-half  of  those  who  enroll  as  students  in  the  Inter- 
national Correspondence  Schools  are  permanently,  defin- 
itely benefited.  All  of  the  students  who  complete  one  sub- 
ject of  their  course  complete  on  an  average  three  subjects, 
that  is,  Arithmetic,  Geometrical  Drawing  and  Mechanical 
Drawing,  or  Blow-piping,  Assaying  and  Mineralogy,  or  Ar- 
ithmetic, Mensuration  and  Mine  Ventilation.  As  it  takes 
the  average  student  more  than  four  months  to  finish  each 
subject,  this  shows  that  one-half  of  the  students  enrolled 
study  at  least  one  year.  Since  90  per  cent,  of  all  the  stu- 
dents enrolled  cannot  work  Fractions,  those  who  complete 
one  subject,  that  is,  Arithmetic,  are  benefited,  and  since  the 
problems  in  Arithmetic  are  varied  to  suit  the  trade  for 
which  the  course  is  intended,  every  person  completing  Ar- 
ithmetic at  the  same  time  learns  something  of  the  applica- 
tions of  his  trade." 

The  first  500  students  in  the  International  Correspond-^ 
ence  Schools  were  enrolled  between  October  16,  1891,  and 
May  20,  1892,  in  the  Complete  Coal  Mining  Course,  which 
was  the  only  course  taught  at  that  time;  385,  or  77  per  cent., 
of  these,  completed  one  or  more  subjects  of  the  course  and 
46  completed  the  course.  The  average  number  of  papers 
completed  was  ten,  the  majority  completing  the  prelimi- 
nary papers  on  Arithmetic,  Mensuration  and  Mine  Ventila- 
tion, which  papers  are  those  needed  to  qualify  them  to  pass 
the  examination  in  which  they  were  especially  interested. 
Many  of  these  original  500  have  passed  away  or  have  been 
lost  sight  of,  but  from  a  list  of  100  of  them  it  is  found  that 
with  few  exceptions  they  were  miners  when  they  enrolled. 
Fifty  per  cent,  of  this  number  are  now  coal  operators,  min- 
ing engineers,  mine  inspectors  or  mine  superintendents,  and 


206  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

the  rest  are  mine  foremen.  Nearly  all  of  these  original  stu- 
dents enrolled  without  personal  solicitation,  and  as  they 
had  a  strong  incentive  to  do  good  work,  namely,  a  definite 
examination  to  pass,  it  is  probable  that  the  results  obtained 
with  them  are  somewhat  higher  than  the  average  of  corre- 
spondence instruction. 

It  is  probably  true  that  the  students  in  the  Goal  Mining 
courses  study  more  than  in  some  of  the  other  courses  for 
the  reason  that  they  have  generally  a  definite  goal  before 
them,  in  being  required  to  pass  a  state  examination  in  many 
states  before  they  can  occupy  a  position  of  responsibility. 
This  gives  a  definite  aim  which  is  even  stronger  than  the 
incentive  to  increase  the  salary. 

In  judging  the  results  of  correspondence  instruction 
the  fact  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  such  instruction  is  not 
designed  for  the  few  who  have  time  and  means  to  attend 
a  technical  school,  but  for  the  large  part  of  the  artisan  pop- 
ulation, probably  ninety-five  per  cent,  of  the  whole,  who 
from  force  of  circumstances,  cannot  attend  such  a  school, 
and  who  in  most  cases  have  not  even  had  a  high  school  edu- 
cation. Correspondence  instruction  is  not  therefore  a  com- 
petitor of  collegiate  instruction,  but  it  aims  to  do  for  the 
many  what  our  colleges  are  doing  for  the  few.  It  is  not 
claimed  that  correspondence  instruction  is  the  panacea  for 
all  the  ills  of  the  industrial  world,  but  it  is  firmly  believed 
by  the  writer  that  when  rightly  understood  and  rightly 
applied  it  is  one  of  the  most  potent  factors  making  for  the 
betterment  of  the  industrial  classes  at  the  present  time. 

The  facts  thus  far  given  are  historical  and  statistical 
and  can  be  verified  by  anyone  through  an  examination  of 
the  books  of  the  International  Textbook  Company  in  Scran- 
ton. 

The  proof  of  the  pudding,  however,  is  in  the  eating  of  it, 
and  in  order  to  find  out  the  opinion  of  mining  men  through- 
out the  country  with  regard  to  correspondence  instruction 
the  following  circular  letter  was  sent  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada  to  about  120  mining  men  occupying  positions 
of  different  degrees  of  responsibility  and  including  every 
state  mining  official  and  mine  inspector. 

"One  of  the  questions  for  discussion  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Mining  Congress  to  be  held  in  Joplin, 
Missouri,  November  llth  to  16th,  will  be  the  subject  of  'Min- 
ing Education  in  the  United  States.' 

"I  desire  to  get  the  opinions  of  prominent  mining  men 
throughout  the  United  States  upon  the  subject  of 'The 
Value  of  Correspondence  Instruction  to  the  Mining  Men.' 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  207 

I  will  appreciate  it  if  you  will  answer  the  questions  on  the 
accompanying  sheet  and  return  them  to  me  at  your  earli- 
est convenience." 

(1)  Have  you  ever  been  a  student  of  Mining  by  cor- 
respondence? 

(2)  If  you  have  studied  Mining  by  correspondence, 
how  much  of  your  success  do  you  attribute  to  corre- 
spondence instruction? 

(3)  What  advancement  in  position  or  income  have 
you  made  which  you  can  trace  to  your  correspondence 
instruction? 

(4)  What  is  your  opinion  of  the  value  of  such  in- 
struction to  others  with  whom  you  have  come  in  con- 
tact  as   regards    their    general    efficiency   about  the 
mines? 

(5)  In  the  state  examinations,  how  do  students  of 
Mining  by  correspondence  compare  with  other  appli- 
cants who  have  not  taken  correspondence  courses? 

(6)  Give  some    notable    instance  which  you   have 
seen  of  success  due  to  correspondence  instruction. 

Signature  

Official  Position ; . 

To  this  circular  letter  66  replies  were  received  and  a 
number  of  letters  were  returned  on  account  of  imperfect 
addresses.  As  these  replies  came  from  all  over  the  United 
States  and  Canada  and  from  persons  in  no  way  connected 
with  the  International  Correspondence  Schools  they  furnish 
a  good  index  of  the  opinion  in  which  correspondence  in- 
struction is  held  by  men  who  have  tried  such  instruction 
personally  and  who  are  also  in  a  position  to  judge  of  its 
results  with  others  whom  they  have  observed. 

In  answer  to  the  first  question,  "Have  you  ever  been 
a  student  of  mining  by  correspondence?"  44  out  of  66,  that 
is,  66  Va  per  cent.,  stated  that  they  had,  and  in  most  cases 
practically  all  of  their  technical  knowledge  had  been  se- 
cured by  this  method  of  instruction.  A  number  of  others 
who  have  not  taken  courses  stated  that  they  had  used  the 
books  of  the  International  Correspondence  Schools  and 
found  them  very  helpful.  Of  the  min'e  inspectors  and  chiefs 
of  departments  of  mines  throughout  the  United  States,  35 
out  of  the  54  who  replied  have  been  students  of  mining  by 
correspondence.  Nearly  all  of  the  inspectors  appointed 
within  the  past  fifteen  years  have  been  correspondence  stu- 
dence.  Most  of  the  state  officials  who  have  not  been  stu- 
dents by  correspondence  had  been  appointed  without  an 


208  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING  ^ CONGRESS 

examination  or  had  secured  their  certificates  of  compe- 
tency before  the  introduction  of  correspondence  instruction 
in  the  United  States.  In  many  cases  these  same  men  state 
that  they  realize  full  well  the  greater  advantages  now  open 
to  young  men  through  the  medium  of  correspondence  in- 
struction. 

Question  2.  "If  you  have  studied  mining  by  correspon- 
dence, how  much  of  your  success  do  you  attribute  to  corres- 
pondence instruction?" 

This  is,  of  course,  a  rather  difficult  question  to  answer,, 
as  it  is  difficult  to  determine  just  what  part  of  a  man's  suc- 
cess is  due  to  each  of  the  items  contributing  to  it.  How- 
ever, 21  out  of  the  65  who  answered  state  that  they  consider 
that  "practically  all"  of  their  success  can  be  attributed  to  cor- 
respondence instruction,  while  11  others  state  that  their 
success  is  "very  largely"  due  to  such  instruction.  Several 
college  graduates  replied  that  they  had  been  materially 
helped  in  connection  with  their  work  by  taking  correspon- 
dence instruction  after  receiving  their  college  degrees. 

One  man  replied  that  he  attributed  very  little  of  his 
success,  and  four  that  they  attributed  none  at  all  to  such 
instruction. 

Question  3.  "What  advancement  in  position  and  in- 
come have  you  made  which  you  can  trace  to  correspondence 
instruction?" 

A  large  number  of  those  replying  have  advanced  from 
the  position  of  miner  at  the  face  to  various  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility such  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  a  coal  com- 
pany, mine  inspector,  general  foreman,  etc.  The  most  no- 
ticeable advancement  is  probably  one  man -from  a  photo- 
rapher  at  a  dollar  a  day  to  a  mining  geologist  and  engineer, 
due  entirely,  he  says,  to  correspondence  instruction.  An- 
other notable  instance  is  that  of  advancement  from  the  po- 
sition of  janitor  to  state  inspector  of  mines.  Increases  of 
salary  vary  from  100  per  cent,  to  500  per  cent.  Only  two 
report  that  they  have  made  no  advance  in  salary  since  they 
began  studying  by  correspondence. 

It  is  not  claimed,  of  course,  that  some  of  these  men 
would  not  have  made  advancement  studying  by  the  ordi- 
nary methods,  but  their  advancement  has  undoubtedly  been 
more  rapid  and  a  larger  number  have  succeeded  that  other- 
wise would  not  have  done  so,  owing  to  the  almost  insur- 
mountable difficulties  of  studying  alone  and  without  assist- 
ance. The  courses  in  mining  are  difficult,  and  the  fact  that 
a  man  has  backbone  enough  to  give  up  his  nights  to  study 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  209 

after  a  hard  day  of  labor  is  an  index  to  the  character  of  the 
men  who  successfully  carry  on  correspondence  courses. 

The  fact  that  a  man  must  work  to  successfully  com- 
plete a  course  of  instruction  by  correspondence,  and  that  he 
must  frequently  do  his  work  under  trying  circumstances 
and  must  deny  himself  certain  pleasures  and  privileges  in 
order  to  do  it,  marks  such  a  one  as  a  man  with  ambition  and 
a  man  with  backbone,  and  even  for  the  sake  of  argument, 
assuming  the  impossible,  that  is,  that  a  man  derives  no 
good  from  the  contents  of  the  books  he  studies  and  from 
writing  out  answers  to  the  questions  contained  in  them, 
any  man  who  has  the  nerve  to  study  for  several  years  in 
order  to  know  the  why  and  wherefore  of  his  daily  work  is 
bound  to  be  a  better  man.  One  man  in  answer  to  this  ques- 
tion writes:  "After  completing  my  course  I  worked  as  a 
miner  and  was  then  selected  out  of  twenty -five  other  appli- 
cants for  foreman  of  an  iron  mine.'7 

Question  4.  "What  is  your  opinion  of  the  value  of  such 
instruction  to  others  with  whom  you  have  come  in  contact 
as  regards  their  general  efficiency  about  the  mines?" 

This  question  and  the  one  following  form  the  critical 
test  of  the  success  of  correspondence  instruction  and  the 
answers  received  are  very  interesting.  It  is  difficult  to  tab- 
ulate this  information  as  each  reply  is  expressed  in  differ- 
ent terms  of  appreciation.  Fifteen  state  simply  that  they 
have  the  "very  highest  opinion"  of  the  value  of  such  instruc- 
tion. A  large  number  of  others  say  that  men  who  have 
taken  such  courses  are  more  reliable,  have  more  fixity  of 
purpose,  are  most  ambitious,  take  a  greater  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  company,  give  their  superiors  less  trouble, 
are  up-to-date  in  their  methods,  and  that  men  with  such  in- 
struction are  much  above  the  average  of  their  fellow  work- 
men. 

One  Chief  of  Department  of  Mines  writes:  "It  has 
brought  about  greater  efficiency  among  mine  managers,  it 
brings  young  men  to  the  front  who  would  otherwise  remain 
working  at  the  face,  and  enables  the  older  men  to  keep  up 
with  the  times  and  with  the  advancements  in  mining  life." 

A  mine  manager  in  Illinois  writes:  "I  have  had  per- 
sonal experience  with  a  great  many  students  of  correspon- 
dence schools  in  mining  work  and  I  find  them  in  general 
much  more  efficient  and  practical  than  men  who  are  not 
such  students." 

One  inspector  of  mines  states  that  he  has  never  come  in 
contact  with  any  person  who  has  shown  extra  ability  be- 
cause of  correspondence  instruction,  but  he  adds  that  he 


210  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

does  not  wish  to  appear  as  depreciating  such  instruction, 
since  he  has  only  been  thrown  in  contact  very  slightly  with 
those  taking  such  work,  and,  by  the  way,  he  is  located  in 
a  part  of  the  country  in  which  the  correspondence  work 
has  not  been  pushed  to  any  great  extent. 

Question  5.  "In  the  state  examination,  how  do  stu- 
dents of  mining  by  correspondence  compare  with  other  ap- 
plicants who  have  not  taken  correspondence  courses?" 

This  is  a  question  which,  of  course,  applies  only  to  the 
states  in  which  coal  mining  is  carried  on,  and  only  in  such 
of  them  as  have  certificated  foremen,  fire  bosses,  etc.  With- 
out exception  the  replies  state  that  students  who  have  stud- 
ied the  theory  of  mining  by  correspondence  lead  the  oth- 
ers who  have  prepared  themselves  in  such  examinations; 
that  they  give  better  answers  and  show  greater  reasoning 
power,  and  that  their  examination  papers  are  more  satis- 
factory to  the  examining  boards.  One  member  of  an  ex- 
amining board  writes:  "In  this  locality  students  by  cor- 
respondence always  get  higher  percentages  than  those  who 
study  by  other  methods."  Another  member  of  an  examin- 
ing board  from  British  Columbia  states  that  correspondence 
students  stand  foremost  in  the  examinations  in  that  sec- 
tion. Another  states  that  they  compare  as  a  polished  gem 
to  the  rough  diamond.  A  mine  inspector  from  Montana 
writes:  "Of  fourteen  successful  applicants  for  certificates 
of  competency,  the  examination  papers  on  file  in  this  office 
show  that  the  seven  highest  graded  papers  were  those  of 
correspondence  school  students." 

Another  writes:  "I  am  in  a  position  where  I  can  see 
the  particular  benefits  derived  from  correspondence  courses 
in  the  state  examinations  for  mine  foreman  and  hoisting  en- 
gineer. Here  the  students  of  mining  by  correspondence  are 
about  the  only  successful  ones  in  these  examinations.  I 
cannot  speak  too  highly  for  the  correspondence  courses  in 
mining." 

Another  writes:  "I  was  never  a  correspondence  stu- 
dent until  I  had  successfully  passed  the  mine  foreman  and 
mine  inspector  examinations,  but  have  since  become  a  stu- 
dent,  and  can  now  see  how  much  easier  a  student  by  cor- 
respondence can  fit  himself  for  an  examination  than  one 
who  has  to  depend  upon  studying  by  himself  from  text- 
books without  any  person  to  explain  and  make  things  clear 
which  he  is  unable  to  understand." 

Another  Chief  of  Department  of  Mines  writes:  "The 
applicants  for  state  examinations  who  have  not  taken  a 
complete  course  by  correspondence  do  not  compare  favor- 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  211 

ably  with  those  who  have.  Those  that  have  completed  a 
course  and  have  practical  knowledge  of  mine  work  stand 
the  best  examinations  and  get  the  highest  certificate  of  effi- 
ciency." 

At  an  examination  for  State  Mine  Inspector  held  at 
Uniontown,  Pennsylvania,  in  May,  1903,  nineteen  of  the  can- 
didates were  International  Correspondence  School  students. 
Fifty  were  not  such  students.  The  following  table  shows 
the  relative  results: 

Average 
Percent- 

Per  Per       age  Mark 

Number     cent-     Number  cent-  Received  in 
Candidates  Number  Passed       age       Failed       age       Examin's 

I.   C.   S.   Students    19  15  79  4  21  75.2 

Not  I.  C.   S.  Students 50  7  14  43  86  54.7 

The  average  percentage  received  by  the  International 
Correspondence  School  students  was  20.5  per  cent,  higher 
than  that  received  by  the  other  contestants;  65  per  cent, 
more  of  the  former  passed  than  of  the  latter. 

Question  6.  "Give  some  notable  instance  which  you 
have  seen  of  success  due  to  correspondence  instruction." 

Nearly  "all  of  the  answers,  whether  by  those  who  had 
or  had  not  studied  by  correspondence  themselves  contained 
recited  instances  of  men  occupying  responsible  positions 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writers,  could  be  directly  trace- 
able to  their  instruction  by  correspondence.  Some  few 
stated  that  their  observation  had  not  been  extensive  enough 
and  answers  such  as  the  following  were  very  common : 

"Too  numerous  to  mention." 

"I  know  hundreds  of  young  men  in  Illinois." 

"Have  employed  a  number  of  correspondence  school 
men  in  my  laboratory  and  have  found  them  very  efficient." 

"Instances  of  benefit  derived  are  to  be  found  in  every 
camp  in  this  state." 

"Two  men  who  could  not  read  and  write  when  they 
enrolled  are  now  superintendents." 

"A  friend  of  mine  who  could  not  do  simple  multiplica- 
tion is  now  a  good  mathematician,  surveyor  and  a  very  suc- 
cessful mine  manager." 

One  man  from  Montana  writes  that  after  completing 
the  course  he  applied  for  a  position  and  was  told  that 
"no  correspondence  school  students  need  apply."  The  same 
employer  would  probably  have  made  the  same  response  to 
a  college  graduate. 

A  well  known  mining  engineer  of  Denver,  a  college 
graduate  and  for  some  years  a  teacher,  writes :  "Have  met 
a  number  of  men  in  responsible  positions,  all  of  whose  tech- 
nical education  had  been  in  correspondence  instruction." 


212  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

The  following  letter  from  the  chief  mine  inspector  of 
one  of  our  states  accidentally  came  into  the  writer's  hands. 
It  was  written  without  any  idea  that  it  would  be  used  in 
this  way  and  in  response  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  from  a  young 
man  in  Canada: 

"Your  letter  of  the  14th,  relative  to  recommendation 
of  the  International  Correspondence  School  in  mining  and 
metallurgy  is  just  at  hand.  In  reply  permit  me  to  say  that 
I  have  taken  the  complete  course  in  mining  in  this  school 
and  am  fully  warranted  in  saying  that  the  benefits  de- 
rived from  this  study  have  been  of  incalculable  value  to 
me  as  a  mining  engineer. 

"It  is  true  that  I  was  pretty  well  prepared  to  do  mining 
engineering  before  I  ever  studied  or  took  up  the  correspon- 
dence school.  However,  I  acquired  a  great  deal  of  informa- 
tion from  that  school  that  I  did  not  have. 

"I  would  advise  that  you  take  up  a  special  course  of 
Mine  Engineering  in  this  school,  along  with  your  complete 
course  in  mining.  When  you  have  completed  these  courses, 
if  you  have  had  practical  experience,  I  feel  that  you  will 
be  fully  prepared  to  do  mining  engineering. 

"I  know  a  number  of  young  men  that  have  taken  these 
courses  along  with  their  practical  experience  in  mining,  and 
with  such  instructions  as  they  got  from  myself  and  others, 
they  are  well  qualified  mining  engineers,  and  in  many  in- 
stances more  thorough  and  competent  than  a  great  many 
engineers  graduating  from  mining  schools." 

Another  engineer  from  Denver  who  has  had  a  great 
deal  of  experience  with  correspondence  students  in  mining 
writes  as  follows  in  regard  to  the  general  subject  of  cor- 
respondence instructions : 

"I  value  correspondence  instruction  very  highly,  but 
even  higher  on  ethical  grounds  than  on  practical;  for  the 
spirit  and  thirst  for  education  that  will  drive  a  man  to 
correspondence  instruction  marks  him,  at  least  nine  times 
out  of  ten,  as  a  valuable  man.  The  tenth  man  is  the  one 
who  holds  the  mistaken  idea  that  the  diploma,  with  its 
effect  on  possible  employers,  is  the  great  end  and  aim  of 
the  correspondence  courses,  and  who,  because  he  has  no 
one  to  watch  him,  will  copy  answers  to  examination  ques- 
.tions  directly  from  his  text  book.  He  simply  wrants  the 
mark  and  diploma  without  the  education,  and  is  no  more 
worthy  of  consideration  in  connection  witli  the  general 
value  of  correspondence  education  than  is  the  'student'  in 
the  school  or  college  who  'cribs'  his  way  through.  His 
diploma  or  certificate  won't  fool  his  employers  very  long, 


VALUE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  INSTRUCTION  213 

and  the  same  lack  of  principle  that  leads  him  to  'crib' 
will  sooner  or  later  get  him  into  trouble  with  his  employ- 
ers, even  if  he  does  succeed  in  'holding1  down  his  job.7  So 
we  will  eliminate  him  and  consider  only  the  man  who  stud- 
ies for  the  love  of  study,  of  the  increased  knowledge  and 
efficiency  it  Avill  bring  him.  The  other  fellow  is  simply 
cheating  himself  and  throwing  away  his  money.  But  to  the 
man  who  is  really  after  results,  the  correspondence  school 
offers  in  many  cases  the  only  practicable  way  to  attain  them. 
The  willingness  to  take  up,  honestly,  a  course  of  study,  in 
addition  to  or  connection  with  a  man's  regular  work,  is  in 
itself  a  mark  of  that  man's  superiority. 

"As  to  the  character  and  efficiency  of  the  instruction, 
while  it  must  necessarily  occasionally  lack  some  of  the  clar- 
ity of  personal  instruction — since  students'  questions  can- 
not be  answered  as  soon  as  asked,  and  the  sequence  of  a 
series  of  interdependent  questions  may  have  become  some- 
what  broken  by  the  time  the  answers  are  all  in;  still,  the 
instruction  papers  are  today  written  in  such  clear  and  sim- 
ple language  as  to  largely  obviate  this  difficulty.  The  Inter- 
national Correspondence  Schools  text  books  have  a  high 
value  as  reference  books  on  account  of  their  clearness  and 
simplicity. 

"I  think  so  much  of  correspondence  instruction  that  I 
recommend  it  always  to  working  men  who  show  a  desire  to 
know  more  of  the  theoretical  and  technical  side  of  their 
work,  and  even  consider  myself,  and  other  engineers,  not 
above  profiting  by  it  in  the  way  of  brushing  up  on  special 
subjects.  I  want  to  take  up  a  course  in  electro-chemistry 
and  am  going  to  do  so  as  soon  as  I  can  get  established  some- 
where where  I  won't  have  to  pack  and  unpack  my  stuff 
about  once  a  week.'* 

This  canvass  of  the  opinions  of  prominent  mining  men 
throughout  the  United  States  has  at  least  strengthened  the 
opinion  of  the  writer  of  the  value  of  correspondence  instruc- 
tion. It  is  not  the  panacea  for  all  of  the  ills  of  mining.  It 
cannot  make  an  impractical  man  a  practical  one.  It  cannot 
furnish  brains  to  -the  brainless  man  nor  tact  to  the  tactless 
man.  It  does,  however,  offer  to  the  ambitious  man  a  means 
of  obtaining  a  technical  knowledge  which  he  has  never  had 
until  the  correspondence  system  of  instruction  as  outlined 
above  was  put  into  force. 

Correspondence  Schools  have  not  only  provided  water 
for  the  horse  to  drink,  but  they  have  taken  the  drink  to 
the  horse,  thus  minimizing  Ms  efforts  as  much  as  possible. 
They  cannot,  of  course,  force  the  horse  to  drink,  but  if  he 


OF  THE 


214  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

will  lialf  try,  the  drink  has  been  made  as  palatable  as  pos- 
sible. I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  correspondence  courses 
are  easy  courses.  Far  from  it,  and  really  the  only  dissatis- 
fied correspondence  school  students  with  whom  I  have  come 
in  contact  are  those  who  thought  that  all  that  was  neces- 
sary to  secure  a  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  mining  was  to 
pay  the  price  of  a  course,  and  that  in  some  mysterious  way 
the  International  Correspondence  Schools  would  turn  on 
the  knowledge  faucet  and  allow  the  streams  of  information 
to  flow  at  will  down  their  throats.  Such  persons  probably 
prefer  liquid  refreshment  to  solid  because  it  is  too  mucn 
trouble  to  chew  the  latter. 


Gypsum :     Where  Found,  Its  Use  and  Its  Manufacture 


BY  C.  O.  BARTLETT,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 

As  I  understand  it,  one  of  the  -principal  objects  of  the 
American  Mining  Congress  is  the  creation  of  a  separate 
Department  of  Mining  by  the  Government,  similar  to  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  honestly  believing  that  the 
mining  industry  is  so  great  and  so  important  that  it  should 
have  a  department  by  itself. 

If  tliis  is  done  by  the  government  it  must  necessarily 
include  all  kinds  of  mining;  not  the  precious  metals  alone, 
but  all  kinds.  For  instance,  there  were  produced  in  the 
state  of  Vermont  very  nearly  as  many  dollars'  worth  of 
gra  nite  as  the  total  output  of  gold  in  South  Dakota.  There 
were  over  $20,000,000  worth  of  clay  products  produced  in 
the  state  of  Ohio  last  year,  nearly  three  and  a  half  times 
the  value  of  the  gold  produced  in  South  Dakota.  There 
were  produced  in  the  state  of  Ohio  during  the  last  year 
more  than  27,000,000  tons  of  coal,  and  counting  its  value  at 
#1.50  a  ton,  this  equals  more  than  $40,000,000  worth  of  coal. 
There  will  be  received  at  Cleveland  and  the  nearby  ports 
more  than  40,000,000  tons  of  iron  ore  this  year.  Counting 
the  value  at  $6  per  ton,  which-  is  low  at  the  present  time, 
this  amounts  to  more  than  $240,000,000. 

Again,  there  is  another  thing  very  favorable  to  the 
cheaper  minerals.  As  soon  as  the  gold  is  received  it  is  turned 
over  to  the  Government  and  the  cash  is  paid  for  it.  But 
Avith  clay,  iron,  granite,  etc.,  the  work  is  just  begun.  The 
vessels  and  railroads  take  the  ore  and  deliver  it  to  the 
docks.  From  there  it  goes  to  the  furnaces  and  through  the 
different  processes  until  it  comes  out  different  kinds  of  ma- 
chinery, each  process  adding  to  its  value,  and  also  adding 
very  much  to  the  wealth  of  the  country,  and  very  much  to 
the  common  wealth  of  the  people,  for  it  requires  an  army  of 
workmen  to  do  the  work.  There  are  two  salt  factories  in 
Cleveland  extracting  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth  right 
under  the  city  of  Cleveland  more  than  500  tons  of  salt  a 
day.  On  the  top  of  the  ground  are  situated  large  iron  man- 
ufactories, turning  out  great  quantities  of  iron  in  the  form 
of  wire,  nails,  bolts,  etc.,  while  underneath  at  a  depth  of 
about  2,000  feet  are  the  mines  of  salt. 

I  venture  the  assertion  that  in  the  state  of  Colorado, 
which  I  understand  is  the  banner  state  in  the  production  of 


216  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

gold,  in  the  near  future  the  production  of  coal  will  exceed 
the  value  of  the  gold.  In  fact,  it  is  very  nearly  to  that 
point  now.  In  1906  there  were  mined  in  Colorado  about 
$22,000,000  worth  of  gold,  and  over  10,000,000  tons  of  coal. 
Counting  coal  at  $2  a  ton,  it  means  over  $20,000,000  worth 
of  coal  mined  in  the  state  of  Colorado,  but  a  very  little  less 
than  the  value  of  the  total  amount  of  gold.  This  was  in 
1906,  and  it  is  a  question  if  this  year  does  not  bring  the  coal 
ahead  of  the  gold.  The  largest  deposits  of  coal  in  Colorado 
have  hardly  been  touched,  especially  in  Koutt  county;  not 
only  bituminous  coal,  but  anthracite,  of  which  I  understand 
there  are  large  quantities. 

There  are  many  other  cheap  minerals  that  must,  and 
necessarily  should,  receive  the  attention  of  the  government. 
There  is  one  company  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  with  quarries 
near  that  city,,  that  is  now  shipping  more  than  85  carloads 
of  their  stone  product  a  day,  employing  an  army  of  work- 
men. This  product  goes  to  nearly  every  part  of  the  United 
States.  There  is  another  company  near  Cleveland  that  is 
manufacturing  a  very  high  grade  of  pressed  brick.  They 
are  making  about  10,000,000  very  high  quality  of  pressed 
brick  a  year,  which  are  shipped  to  all  the  cities  from  the 
Mississippi  river  to  the  Atlantic  ocean  and  the  present 
price  is  about  $13  per  1,000. 

Another  industry  belonging  to  this  class  is  the  gypsum, 
industry,  on  which  I  beg  to  submit  the  following: 

Gypsum  is  found  in  many  mountainous  localities 
throughout  the  United  States,  and  especially  in  New  York, 
Ohio,  Michigan,  Iowa,  Kansas  and  several  other  of  the 
eastern  states.  It  is  also  found  in  the  eastern  part  of  Can- 
ade.  The  largest  deposits  are  found  in  Nova  Scotia  and 
Newfoundland,  and  it  is  of  a  very  high  grade.  It  is  gen- 
erally found  near  the  surface  and  is  easy  to  mine.  In  some 
places  it  is  nearly  pure  and  in  other  places  it  is  necessary 
to  sort  it. 

At  the  present  time  I  presume  that  not  one  in  five  at 
this  convention  have  ever  heard  of  gypsum,  but  neverthe- 
less it  is  used  in  nearly  every  city  in  the  United  States  in 
one  form  or  another.  It  is  largely  used  for  making  ready- 
made  plaster,  and  its  use  along  this  line  is  increasing  very 
rapidly  indeed.  In  fact,  in  1900  there  were  produced  only 
429,000  tons.  In  1906  there  were  produced  nearly  1,400,000 
tons,  with  a  very  marked  increase  in  1907.  One  company 
is  now  operating  over  30  plants  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  as  I  understand  it,  they  are  continually  behind 
in  their  orders.  Gypsum  is  also  used  for  making  Portland 
cement,  crayons,  and  for  many  other  purposes. 


GYPSUM  21? 

Most  gypsum  is  quite  hard.  It  generally  contains 
about  25  per  cent,  moisture.  The  product  manufactured 
from  gypsum  rock  is  generally  called  calcined  plaster  of 
paris.  To  manufacture  this  requires  the  following  machin- 
ery: 

The  gypsum  rock  is  first  crushed  in  an  ordinary  9x12 
inch  jaw  breaker,  which  easily  has  a  capacity  of  5  tons  an 
hour.  From  this  breaker  the  crushed  gypsum  rock  goes  to 
the  second  crusher,  called  a  pot-crusher,  and  is  again 
crushed.  From  the  second  crusher  the  material  goes  to  the 
dryer,  where  about  10  per  cent,  of  the  moisture  is  taken 
out.  The  products  of  the  fire  should  not  be  allowed  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  material  while  being  dried,  on  account 
of  the  danger  of  discoloring  it.  From  the  dryer  the  crushed 
gypsum  rock  should  be  ground  and  elevated  to  the  bins  over 
the  calcining  kettle.  Different  machines  are  used  for  grind- 
ing, but  as  a  general  thing  the  horizontal  French  Bulir 
mills  are  as  good  as  anything  to  reduce  the  rock. 

The  calcining  or  boiling  is  done  in  a  large  open  kettle, 
generally  10  feet  in  diameter  and  10  feet  deep,  with  heavy 
wrought  steel  sides  and  cast  iron  or  very  heavy  steel  bot- 
tom, made  convex  so  as  to  better  resist  the  heat  without  sag- 
ging. The  kettle  should  have  four  flues,  about  12  inches  in 
diameter,  running  through  it  near  the  bottom.  Inside  of 
the  kettle  is  a  heavy  shaft  supported  from  above,  with  very 
heavy  sweeps  or  stirrers  below  the  flues  near  the  bottom, 
and  some  mixing  paddles  above  the  flues.  The  shaft  must 
necessarily  be  very  strong  and  should  be  supported  froni 
above,  otherwise  the  weight  of  it  would  tend  to  break  down 
the  bottom  of  the  kettle.  The  kettle  should  be  set  in  brick- 
work, with  fire  front,  doors,  grate  bars,  etc.  The  heat  passes 
directly  under  it  and  around  the  sides,  then  through  the 
flues  and  out  at  the  stack.  The  ground  gypsum  is  fed  into 
the  kettle  in  quantities  of  about  ten  tons  at  a  time  and 
continually  stirred  and  boiled  until  the  remainder  of  the 
free  water  is  driven  off.  It  usually  takes  about  two  hours 
to  boil  one  batch.  It  should  be  brought  to  a  temperature  of 
265°  F.  When  properly  boiled  it  will  settle,  after  which  it 
is  ready  to  be  discharged,  which  is  done  through  a  discharge 
gate  on  the  side  near  the  bottom,  same  being  operated  by  a 
lever  from  above. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  calcined  plaster  is  used  in 
this  form.  If  it  be  desired  to  make  a  finer  grade  it  will  be 
necessary  to  boil  it  the  second  time,  which  in  reality  is  tak- 
ing out  the  water  of  crystallization.  If  this  water  of  crys- 
tallization is  once  started  it  must  be  taken  out,  otherwise 


2l8  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

the  calcined  plaster  will  be  spoiled.  A  competent  and  reli- 
able man  should  always  have  charge  of  this  calcining-  ket- 
tle, for  it  is  the  most  important  part  of  the  business.  After 
calcining  it  can  be  either  passed  over  a  grading  reel  and 
graded,  or  else  the  whole  product  can  be  ground  on  Buhr 
mills,  after  which  it  is  ready  for  use. 

Elevators,  conveyors  and  good,  heavy  bins,  which 
should  be  made  largely  of  steel  and  iron,  will  also  be  re- 
quired. Everything  about  a  gypsum  plant  should  be  very 
strong  and  substantial.  . 

The  necessary  machinery  for  making  the  above  men- 
tioned quantity  of  calcined  plaster  will  weigh  about  75,000 
pounds.  It  will  take  about  125  horse  power  to  drive  it  and 
will  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  f  10,000.  The  cost  of  min- 
ing the  gypsum  depends  upon  circumstances,  and  varies 
from  25  cents  per  ton  up.  The  cost  of  manufacturing  this 
product  in  quantities  of  not  less  than  50  tons  a  day  will  be 
about  f  1  a  ton,  counting  10  per  cent,  depreciation  of  ma- 
chinery, which  is  ample,  6  per  cent,  interest  on  the  invest- 
ment of,  say,  |10,000,  and  allowing  30  cents  a  ton  for 
mining. 

As  above  stated,  calcined  plaster  of  paris  is  used  in 
making  ready-made  plaster.  In  fact,  it  is  the  base  of  all 
of  this  product  and  is  generally  used  in  the  proportion  of 
one-third  calcined  plaster  to  two-thirds  dried  sand,  with  a 
small  amount  of  hair  and  retarder.  The  retarder  is  neces- 
sary to  prevent  the  plaster  from  setting  too  quickly.  For 
stone  or  brick  work  the  proportion  of  calcined  plaster  is 
about  one-fourth.  Wood  fibre  is  largely  used,  also  asbestos 
fibre,  which  is  preferred  by  some.  There  are  no  patent  for- 
mulas for  making  ready-made  plaster.  It  is  free  to  any- 
body and  everybody,  and  anyone  who  buys  so-called  patent 
and  secret  formulas  for  making  ready-made  plaster  is  sim- 
ply buying  gold  bricks. 


Tariff  on  Zinc  Ores 


BY  S.  DUFFIELD  MITCHELL,  CARTHAGE,  MISSOURI. 

Like  most  subjects  touching  so  many  sides  of  our  in- 
dustrial life,  the  one  before  us  of  "Tariff  on  Zinc  Ores"  has 
accumulated  an  almost  impenetrable  covering  of  technical- 
ity, and,  to  get  at  the  underlying  body,  perhaps  one  should 
be  a  composite  mineralogist,  metallurgist,  lawyer  and 
statesman.  I,  therefore,  approach  the  discussion  with  dif- 
fidence, fearing  that  to  my  own  undoing  I  may  "rush  in 
where  angels  fear  to  tread." 

However,  in  spite  of  the  apparent  serious  aspect  of  the 
subject,  there  appears  a  somewhat  redeeming  quality  of  hu- 
mor in  it,  as  that,  for  instance,  manifested  in  the  absolutely 
irreconcilable  interpretations  by  the  Board  of  General  Ap- 
praisers in  New  York,  and  others,  who  have  trumpeted  sci- 
entific and  legal  definitions  of , the  sections  of  the  tariff  act 
with  bewildering  promise  of  solution,  but  whose  notes  have 
died  away  to  the  faintest  echo. 

For  within  the  past  two  years  have  you  not  heard  that 
the  lawyer-Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  the  Attorney  General 
of  the  United  States,  the  Board  of  Appraisers  at  New  York, 
and  many  expert  tariff  lawyers,  have  played  battledoor  and 
shuttle-cock  with  this  subject,  and  there  is  even  now  dis- 
agreement among  them  all  as  to  the  facts  and  the  law. 

Even  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  Judge  of  Texas, 
before  whom  the  questions  were  argued  on  appeal  more 
than  six  months  ago,  has  seen  not  the  guiding  light  to  lead 
him  forth  from  the  wilderness,  and  has  failed  thus  far  to 
make  the  pronouncement  so  anxiously  awaited. 

In  the  summer  of  1904  prices  of  zinc  ore  at  Joplin  were 
depressed  and  the  demand  somewhat  curtailed.  *In  October 
the  base  price  wa.s  about  $40  per  ton,  but  by  January  and 
February,  1905,  the  price  had  attached  itself  to  a  comet 
and  was  soaring  between  $55  and  $60.  For  the  succeeding 
few  months  prices  receded  somewhat,  but  during  the  last 
half  of  that  year  showed  great  strength  and  were  well 
maintained  around  the  $50  mark. 

During  a  large  portion  of  this  time  the  ore  buyers  vied 
with  each  other  for  the  ore.  This  competition  for  ore  and 
enhancement  in  values,  were  brought  about  solely  by  the 
smelters.  There  was  no  concerted  action  among  the  pro- 
ducers, either  to  raise  the  price,  or  to  regulate  the  output. 
Many  of  the  more  far-seeing  operators  did  not  view  the  situ- 


220  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

ation  with  complacency.  For  we  knew  that  the  law  of  grav- 
itation must  govern  even  zinc  ore  prices — at  some  time. 
Throughout  the  year  of  1905  the  price  of  60^  jack  at  Jopliu 
averaged  $46.95  per  ton:  it  had  been  $35.92  in  1904.  During 
the  whole  of  the  year  1905  with  jack  at  $40.95  and  spelter  at 
St.  Louis  $5.73  per  hundred,  the  ratio  between  mineral  and 
metal  was  as  1  to  8  1-5.  The  zinc  operators  had  always  been 
given  the  sop  that  a  1  to  7  ratio  would  give  the  smelters 
only  a  fair  margin  of  profit. 

From  this,  one  is  well  able  to  deduce  the  fact  that  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  the  year  1905  no  smelter  made  money; 
that  it  was  impossible  to  pay  the  high  price  for  ore;  take 
the  moderate  price  for  spelter;,  pay  operating  expenses, 
fixed  charges,  interest  on  bonded  indebtedness;  and  have 
left  even  the  widow's  mite  for  the  holders  of  engraved  cer- 
tificates of  moisture.  As  a  conclusion  this  must  be  correct, 
for  during  the  months  of  January  and  February,  1905,  the 
ratio  between  the  prices  of  ore  and  spelter  was  as  1  to  8f . 

During  the  latter  part  of  1904  the  smelters  began  the 
importation  of  zinc  ores  from  British  Columbia  and  Mexico. 
By  a  ruling  of  the  Treasury  Department  in  October  of  that 
year,  such  ores  were  admitted  under  paragraph  181  of  the 
tariff  act  as  "lead  bearing  ore"  and  paid  the  nominal  duty 
of  1J  cents  per  pound  on  the  lead  contents^ 

The  mine  operators  of  this  district  then  agitated  the 
subject  of  securing  a  rational  classification  of  these  ores; 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  have  charge  of  the  subject 
and  discussion  was  opened  with  the  Treasury  Department 
at  Washington.  There  for  six  months  the  weather  vane 
was  variable.  In  July,  1905,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
in  "a  letter,  said  that  instructions  would  issue  that  lead 
bearing  ore  must  contain  four  per  cent,  lead  to  be  lead  ore 
(a  construction  entirely  apart  from  his  powers  as  an  offi- 
cial); that  zinc  sulphides  might  be  dutiable  as  metallic 
mineral  substances  under  paragraph  183  of  the  act;  and 
that  calamine  was  free.  These  promised  instructions  were 
never  issued.  In  September,  1905,  he  declared  he  had  ex- 
pericenced  a  change  of  heart;  that  while  before  he  had  con- 
cived  a  strong  leaning  towards  the  position  of  the  domestic 
mine  operators,  his  attitude  had  since  changed  and  he  then 
thought  zinc  ore  was  not  dutiable  because  there  was  no 
free  metal  in  it. 

After  urgent  appeal  the  whole  matter  was  referred  to 
Attorney  General  Moody  for  opinion.  Three  propositions 
were  argued  in  printed  briefs  submitted  to  the  Attorney 
General.  Representing  two  operating  companies  and  my- 
self, I  presented  an  intervening  brief,  urging  one  position 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  221 

which  New  York  attorneys,  representing  the  producers,  re- 
fused to  argue. 

The  Attorney  General  sustained  all  three  contentions 
and  accordingly  on  February  10,  1906,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  telegraphed  the  Collectors  of  Customs,  as  follows : 

"You  are  hereby  instructed,  following  the  advice  of  the 
Attorney  General,  to  classify  ores  ohiefly  valuable  for  the 
zinc  which  they  contain  as  metallic  mineral  substances  in 
a  crude  state,  under  paragraph  183  of  the  existing  tariff 
act,  at  the  ratio  of  20^  ad  valorem.  You  will  admit  ca!a 
mine,  silicate  of  zinc,  free  under  paragraph  514.". 

Such  in  brief  was  the  preliminary  skirmish  which  pre- 
ceded the  larger  contest,  now  pending  in  the  courts.  This 
controversy  is  based  upon  protests  filed  at  the  ports  of  La- 
redo, Kansas  City,  Philadelphia  and  other  places. 

The  record  in  the  case  now  pending  in  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Texas  squarely  raises  the  three  questions: 

First — What  is  calamine?  Does  it  apply  exclusively  to 
hydrous  silicate  of  zinc,  or  does  it  include  both  the  sili- 
cates and  both  the  carbonates  of  zinc? 

Second — Are  ores  of  zinc  "metallic  mineral  substances 
in  a  crude  state"  and  dutiable;  or  are  they  "minerals,  crude, 
or  not  advanced  in  value  or  condition  by  refining  or  grind- 
ing, or  by  other  process  of  manufacture,"  and  therefore 
free? 

Third — What  is  the  scope  and  meaning  of  the  term 
"lead  bearing  ore"  when  lead  and  zinc  are  combined  in  the 
same  ore? 

First. 

Calamine:  Paragraph  514  places  calamine  on  the  free 
list. 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1907,  over  66,500  tons  of 
ore,  classified  as  calamine,  were  imported  from  Mexico,  or 
75$  of  the  total  zinc  importations  from  that  country.  The 
Board  of  Appraisers  ruled  that  "the  term  'calamine'  covers 
both  the  silicates  and  the  carbonates  of  zinc,  that  this  is 
so,  when  the  word  is  regarded  in  its  broadest  sense,  so  far 
at  least  as  tariff  construction  should  go." 

It  was  said  that  the  word  was  scientific ;  not  familiarly 
used  in  ordinary  speech  and  having  no  "popular"  meaning. 
The  distinction  of  Dana  that  only  the  hydrous  silicate  of 
zinc  is  properly  calamine,  was  admitted,  as  well  as  the  fact 
that  he  is  the  accepted  American  authority  on  the  nomen- 
clature of  zinc  ores.  But  it  was  said  that  the  foreign  min- 
eralogists recognize  no  such  distinction. 

Again,  it  was  said  that  in  viewT  of  the  fact  that  silicates 
and  carbonates  of  zinc  are  found  in  nature  commingled: 


222  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

are  of  the  same  value;  used  for  the  same  purpose;  and  that 
zinc  ore  is  nowhere  provided  for  by  name;  it  is  more  than 
a  conjecture  that  Congress,  under  the  name  of  calami ne, 
intended  to  cover  both  the  carbonate  and  silicate  of  zinc. 

It  was  further  stated  that  calamine  has  been  mentioned 
by  name  in  the  free  list  in  every  tariff  act  since  1792,  except 
in  the  acts  of  1846  and  1857,  where  it  was  dutiable.  In  none 
of  the  tariff  acts  has  zinc  ore  been  provided  for  by  name. 
It  was  then  argued  that  if  any  presumption  arises  at  all, 
it  is  that  Congress  intended  no  duty  on  zinc  ores,  as  such, 
rather  than  that  by  changing  the  designation  "lapis  calim- 
inaris"  to  calamine  (in  the  act  of  1846)  it  was  intended  to 
charge  certain  kinds  of  zinc  ore  with  duty. 

Such  is  the  decision  of  the  Board  of  General  Ap- 
praisers. It  will  be  remembered  that  this  Mining  Congress 
at  its  El  Paso  meeting  in  1905,  passed  a  resolution  to  secure 
a  correct  interpretation  of  the  term  "calamine"  in  accord- 
ance with  the  definition  established  by  Professor  Dana. 

I  dismiss  the  subject  of  calamine  with  this  brief  syn- 
opsis of  the  official  finding  of  the  General  Appraisers,  be- 
cause the  discussion  is  purely  scientific  and  involves  only 
mineralogical  technicality. 

Second. 

Paragraph  183:  Are  the  ores  of  zinc  "metallic  mineral 
substances"  or  are  they  "minerals  crude,  or  not  advanced 
in  value  or  condition  by  refining  or  grinding,  or  by  other 
process  of  manufacture"?  If  the  former,  they  are  dutiable 
at  20$  ad  valorem;  if  the  latter,  they  are  free. 

The  Board  of  General  Appraisers,  who  had  decided 
180,703  various  protests  before  our  13  protests  claimed  their 
attention,  found  no  difficulty  in  ruling  that  zinc  ore  is  not 
a  metallic  mineral  substance,  because  it  contains  no  free, 
native  metal;  and  because  one  cannot  by  the  dexterous  use 
of  tweezers  pick  out  of  the  ore  particles  of  spelter;  also  that 
the  ore,  by  the  usual  system  of  concentration,  has  not  been 
advanced  in  value  or  condition;  but  that  such  process  is 
merely  "to  avoid  paying  freight  charges  on  rock  and  dirt." 
As  Jones  pays  the  freight,  and  the  Joplin  miner  never  pays 
it,  it  is  interesting  to  learn  by  quasi- judicial  determination, 
that  our  $25,000  concentrating  mills  have  for  their  prime 
object  the  removal  from  the  smelter  of  the  burden  of  freight 
charges. 

It  seems  to  lawyer  and  layman  alike  that  the  word 
"metallic"  clearly  includes  a  zinc  ore,  which  is  capable  by 
process  of  smelting  to  yield  spelter  (metal)  in  a  commercial 
quantity. 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  223 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  zinc  is  a  "mineral  sub- 
stance.77 So  are  marbles,  stones,  clays,  earths  and  a  hun- 
dred like  articles,  specifically  mentioned  in  the  schedules 
preceding  the  metallic  schedule;  but  the  latter  are  not  me- 
tallic in  appearance,  nature  or  composition. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  (Marvel  vs. 
Merritt,  116  U.  S.  11)  defined  the  noun  mineral  as  "any  iu- 
organic  species  having  a  definite  chemical  composition,7' 
and  ore  as  the  "compound  of  a  metal  and  some  other  sub- 
stances, as  oxygen,  sulphur  or  arsenic,  called  its  mineral- 
izer,  by  which  its  properties  are  disguised  or  lost." 

Following  Webster,  it  was  said  that  a  mine  is  "a  pit 
or  excavation  in  the  earth  from  which  metallic  ores  or  other 
mineral  substances  are  taken  by  digging,  distinguished 
from  the  pits  from  which  stones  only  are  taken  and  which 
are  called  quarries.77 

As  a  tariff  law  deals  with  articles  of  commerce  between 
nations,  the  courts  have  ruled  that  its  words  and  terms 
must  receive  a  commercial,  an  every  day  business  niaii7^ 
interpretation.  Its  language  should  be  exempt  from  a  con 
struction,  which  resorts  to  the  technicalities  which  are 
properly  resorted  to  in  the  interpretation  of  solemn  in- 
struments of  writing  or  those  acts  of  legislation  which  in- 
volve property  rights  and  liberty. 

Thus  construed,  "metallic  mineral  substance77  can  only 
inean  a  mineral  substance  useful  for  the  metal  to  be  de- 
rived therefrom.  Judge  McPherson,  an  eminent  Pennsyl- 
vania jurist,  in  construing  this  paragraph,  ruled  that  the 
term  "mineral  substance77  means  "ore,77  and  that  "metallic77 
signifies  metalliferous  in  ordinary  speech,  and  is  not  to  be 
confined  to  its  strictly  scientific,  dictionary  meaning. 

Several  mineralogists  of  high  standing  testified  before 
the  Board  of  Appraisers  that  there  are  but  five  metals,  of 
commercial  consequence,  which  occur  in  nature  in  a  free 
state.  These  are  gold,  silver,  copper,  platinum  and  iridos- 
mium. 

Every  one  of  these  five  metals  is,  by  Congress,  specifi- 
cally placed  in  the  free  list:  they  bear  no  duty;  metallic 
mineral  substances  are  subject  to  20$  duty. 

"Metallic  mineral  substances77  were  mentioned  in  the 
tariff  acts  of  1883,  1890  and  1897,  -and  it  remained  for  the 
Board  of  Appraisers  to  discover  in  the  year  1907,  that  Con- 
gress almost  twenty -five  years  ago  had  enacted  a  provision 
of  law  which  is  absolutely  without  effect. 

The  point  is  this:  Congress  says  metallic  ore  shall  be 
dutiable;  the  Board  of  Appraisers  says  a  metallic  ore  must 
contain  the  free  metal  to  be  dutiable;  all  the  free  metal 


224  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

ores  are  put  by  Congress  in  the  free  list;  therefore  the  board 
in  effect  says  that  no  metallic  ore  is  dutiable.  This  view, 
if  correct,  destroys  paragraph  183  entirely,  for  there  is  noth* 
ing  to  come  within  its  provisions;  there  can  be  no  dutiable 
crude  metallic  mineral  substances  whatever. 

Had  not  Congress  foreseen  this  wisdom  of  the  board 
and  made  specific  provision  for  the  ores  of  iron,  alumina, 
lead,  nickel,  and  many  others,  these  would  have  gone  the 
road  with  the  ores  of  zinc,  unless  one  could  have  picked 
out  the  spike  from  the  iron  ore,  the  kitchen  wrare  from  the 
alumina,  or  the  lead  pipe  from  the  lead  ore.  I  am  not  much 
overdrawing  the  situation. 

I  do  not  want  to  appear  hypercritical  of  government's 
counsel;  but  after  a  close  study  of  the  record,  I  think  they 
were  guilty  of  sins  of  omission  and  commission.  It  should 
have  been  shown  by  positive  proof  that  the  process  of  se- 
curing spelter  from  zinc  ore  in  one  operation ;  that  after  the 
ore  is  placed  in  the  retort  it  sees  not  the  light  of  din  until 
it  is  drawn  off  as  spelter;  that  the  spelter  is  one  degree  re- 
moved from  the  ore,  and  therefore  that  metal  as  metal  must 
be  in  the  ore. 

It  could,  at  least,  have  been  shown  in  proof  that  bj 
the  mixture  of  zinc  ore  (the  sulphide),  limestone  and  coke 
in  the  retort  spelter  can  be  procured  directly  from  the  ore 
without  resort  to  calcination. 

In  lieu  of  this,  the  record  shows  that  witnesses  for  the 
importers  by  their  testimony,  made  out  a  very  intricate  sys- 
tem of  zinc  smelting:  First,  calcination  for  burning  out  the 
sulphur;  second,  distillation  in  the  retort  and  turning  the 
ore  into  zinc  oxide  vapor;  third,  condensation  of  this  metal- 
lic "vapor  into  physical  spelter. 

With  the  record  in  this  shape,  it  was  good  argument 
for  importer's  counsel  to  say,  "We  have  the  exact  analogy  of 
this  proposition  in  the  tungsten  ore  case."  To  use  their 
words,  "the  analogy  to  zinc  ore  is  perfect."  Do  you  not  read 
that  the  court  there  said  that  tungsten  metal  is  two  degrees 
removed  from  the  ore?  But  said  government  counsel, 
"Tungsten  metal  is  used  exclusively  as  an  alloy  to  harden 
steel."  And  said  counsel  for  importer,  "The  suggestion  is 
unfortunate  for  the  government,  since  a  chief  use  of  metal- 
lic zinc  is  as  an  alloy  with  copper  in  making  brass." 

From  the  lawyers  viewpoint  it  is  difficult  to  see  how 
the  tungsten  ore  case  bears  at  all  on  this  zinc  ore  case,  for 
it  is  said  in  opinion  that  the  change  from  tungsten  ore  to 
the  metal  is  "an  expensive  and  intricate  process."  The 
statement  that  "the  ore  does  not  contain  particles  of  metal" 
is  obiter  dictum.  How  unlike  zinc  smelting  is  the  cbnver- 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  225 

sion  of  tungsten  ore  into  tungsten  metal  is  shown  by  its 
process :  the  powdered  tungsten  ore  is  treated  with  soda  and 
saltpeter  in  a  reverbatory  furnace;  the  melted  material  is 
subjected  to  acid;  and  on  evaporation  crystallized  into  tung- 
state:  of  soda;  on  adding  muriatic  acid  to  the  latter,  tung- 
stic  acid  is  precipitated;  by  igniting  tungstic  acid  with 
charcoal  or  a  current  hydrogen,  metallic  tungsten  can  be 
obtained  in  the  form  of  a  powder. 

A  very  elaborate  system  indeed  of  addition,  subtrac- 
tion, evaporation  and  acidification,  compared  to  the  simple 
process  of  zinc  smelting.  This  tungsten  case  is  the  legal 
authority  for  the  defeat  of  zinc  ore  being  classed  as  a  metal- 
lic mineral  substance. 

Paragraph  614:  The  proposition  that  zinc  ores  are 
"minerals,  crude,  or  not  advanced  in  value  or  condition  by 
refining  or  grinding,  or  by  other  process  of  manufacture,'7 
and  are  therefore  on  the  free  list,  was  affirmatively  ruled 
by  the  board  of  appraisers. 

While  it  has  been  decided  that  any  labor  bestowed 
upon  an  article  is  a  process  of  manufacture,  the  decisions 
are  irreconcilable  as  to  where  an  article  stops  being  crude 
and  when  it  becomes  a  manufactured  product.  It  is  un- 
profitable to  discuss  these  cases.  The  practice  of  the  treas- 
ury department  is  well  settled  that  removing  the  gangue 
or  impurities  from  ore  is  not  manufacture  or  refining  but 
is  "one  of  selection,"  that  it  is  "mainly  for  the  purpose  of 
economizing  in  the  cost  of  transportation." 

But  I  insist  that  the  point  was  not  well  developed  or 
strongly  argued,  that  the  most  important  function  of  mill 
concentration  (after  eliminating  gangue  and  rock)  is  the 
separation  of  the  zinc,  the  lead  and  iron.  To  that  extent 
the  zinc  is  very  greatly  "advanced  in  value  or  condition  by 
refining." 

For  do  we  not  all  know  how  zinc  is  penalized  when  con- 
taining iron  and  even  a  very  small  percentage  of  lead?  And 
how  an  excess  of  lead  over  this  limit  precludes  many  buyers 
from  buying  zinc  ore? 

Third. 

Paragraph  181  provides  that  "lead-bearing  ore  of  all 
kinds,"  shall  be  dutiable  at  li  cents  per  pound  "on  the  lead 
contained  therein."  This  clause  offers  the  utmost  difficulty 
of  construction. 

What  is  "lead-bearing"  ore?  How  does  it  differ  from 
the  term  "lead  ore"  used  in  prior  tariff  acts?  Why  was 
"lead  ore"  in  the  tariff  act  of  1894  and  prior  acts  changed 
to  "lead-bearing  ore"  in  the  act  of  1897? 


220  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

Secretary  Shaw  took  a  short  cut  and  said  that  "lead- 
bearing  ores"  within  the  spirit  of  the  law,  must  bear  suffi- 
cient lead  to  justify  its  reduction  for  the  retention  of  this 
lead;  he  then  arbitrarily  decided  that  four  per  cent  lead  is 
sufficient  to;  justify  such  reduction  and  retention. 

This  brought  a  protest  from  the  local  committee  having 
in  charge  the  tariff  matter,  because  it  was  claimed  he  had  no 
authority  in  law  for  such  ruling;  it  was  attempted  legisla- 
tion on  his  part,  and  not  the  promulgation  of  a  regulation 
as  to  the  collection  of  the  duty.  The  lead-bearing  ore  might 
include  all  ores  containing  lead,  even  though  the  lead  is  so 
small  a  per  cent,  as  merely  to  exist  chemically  ami  not  as  a 
commercial  product.  But  so  far  as  actual  protection  was 
concerned,  it  was  felt  that  we  \vere  about  as  well  off  with 
only  a  trace  of  duty  as  a  sum  of  $1.20  or  more  suggested 
by  the  secretary. 

Let  us  go  back  twenty-five  years  and  review  generally 
the  statutes  and  their  absurdly  forced  construction,  to  find 
the  cause  of  discontent  among  the  lead  producers  and  the 
smelters,  and  the  reason  for  their  periodic  protests  and  de- 
mands for  a  change  in  the  law.  The  tariff  act  of  1883  pro- 
vided a  tariff  on  lead  ore  of  li  cents  per  pound.  Large  im- 
portations of  silver-lead  ore  were  made;  silver  ore  was  free 
of  duty.  It  became  the  settled  practice  of  the  treasury  de- 
partment that  such  ore  was  classified  either  as  silver  ore  or 
lead  ore,  according  to  which  mineral  was  the  component  of 
chief  value;  if  the  value  of  the  lead  exceeded  the  value  of 
the  silver  contents,  the  whole  was  classified  as  lead  ore  and 
duty  was  taken  at  1J  cents  per  pound  on  the  gross  weight: 
if  the  silver  exceeded  in  value  the  lead,  the  entire  bulk 
(including  the  lead)  came  in  free  of  duty.  The  vice  of  this 
practice  was  apparent.  When  the  tariff  bill  of  1890  was  in 
process  of  construction  the  western  lead  miners  petitioned 
the  committee  on  ways  and  means  for  such  change  in  the 
language  of  the  lead  ore  clause,  as  would  afford  protection 
on  the  lead  contained  in  all  the  ores. 

Congress  made  such  change  in  the  law  and  the  act  of 
1890  provided  that  lead  ore  should  be  dutiable  at  1/J  cents 
per  pound,  and  added  the  statutory  proviso, 

"That  silver  ore  and  all  other  ores  containing  lead  shall 
pay  a  duty  of  H  cents  per  pound  on  the  lead  contained 
therein." 

The  Wilson  bill  of  1894  left  intact  the  wording  of  the 
McKinley  act,  but  the  duty  on  lead  ore  was  reduced  to  J  of  a 
cent.  Still  the  Treasury  Department  was  tenacious  of  its 
former  rulings  and  adhered  to  the  classification  of  silver- 
lead  ore  according  to  the  component  mineral  of  chief  value. 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  227 

Until  the  act  of  1897  the  practice  still  was  to  classify  the 
imported  ore  either  as  lead  or  silver  ore,  according  to  which 
was  the  more  valuable  part;  if  the  classification  made  the 
bulk  silver  ore,  then  under  the  proviso  of  the  statute  the 
lead  contents  were  dutiable  according  to  tariff  rates  exist- 
ing; if,  however,  the  bulk  was  lead  ore,  then  duty  was  taken 
on  the  gross  weight  according  to  the  lead  schedule. 

Still  the  western  lead  smelters  were  dissatisfied.  They 
declared  that  the  government  was  exercising  an  unfair  ad- 
vantage in  collecting  duty  on  waste  rock  and  silver,  when 
the  importation  happened  to  fall  in  the  category  of  lead  ore. 

They  clamored  for  relief,  and  a  delegation  in  January, 
1897,  from  the  four  corners  of  the  country  appeared  before 
the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means  to  have  their  grievances 
righted. 

Some  members  of  the  delegation  were  content  to  let 
remain  the  duty  of  f  of  a  cent  under  the  Wilson  bill ;  others 
insisted  upon  a  return  to  the  duty  of  li  cents  per  pound  un- 
der the  McKinley  bill;  all  demanded  a  change  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  law.  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  Messrs. 
Dingley,  Payne  and  Dalzell  thought  that  the  Treasury  De- 
partment rulings  were  not  "the  intention  of  the  framers" 
of  the  act  and  that  they  were  "not  a  fair  construction  under 
the  act." 

Some  of  the  delegation  insisted  that  lead  ores,  carrying- 
less  than  5$  of  lead,  should  be  admitted  free;  others  in- 
sisted on  a  limit  of  10$;  the  representative  of  the  Associa- 
tion of  Missouri  Lead  Miners  stated  that  the  average  of 
their  ore  mined  was  less  than  7$  lead  and  that  the  recovery 
by  concentration  did  not  exceed  5$.  Our  southeastern 
neighbors  suggested  a  limit  of  8$  and  that  an  excess  of  lead 
over  that  should  be  dutiable  at  "f  of  a  cent  per  pound." 

To  show  the  unsettled  and  unsatisfactory  status  of  the 
law  from  the  smelter  standpoint,  I  quote  somewhat  at 
length  from  the  testimony  of  their  representative  at  the 
hearing  in  January,  1897 : 

"By  a  peculiar  and  somewhat  strained  use  of  terms, 
silver  bearing  ores  in  which  the  value  of  silver  contained 
therein  preponderates,  are  classed  as  silver  ores,  though 
the  quantity  of  silver  may  be  an  insignificant  number  of 
ounces,  while  the  remaining  metals  are  figured  in  tons. 
Ores  of  this  sort  are  said  to  contain  the  lead,  which  is  an 
exceedingly  ridiculous  proposition  on  its  face.  With  equal 
propriety  one  might  speak  of  a  house  being  contained  in  one 
of  its  closets.  In  the  case  under  discussion  the  injustice  of 
this  unique  classification  is  particularly  conspicuous.  For 
instance,  A  imports  100  tons  of  silver  bearing  ore  containing 


228  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

60  tons  of  lead,  nearly  40  tons  of  waste,  and  the  compara- 
tively insignificant  physical  item  of  4,000  ounces  of  silver. 
This  enormous  proportion  of  lead  is  valued  at  $2,400.  The 
few  ounces  of  silver,  by  the  same  regulation  is  valued  at 
$2,600,  and,  presto,  it  becomes  at  once  a  silver  ore,  and  the 
importer  pays  duty  only  on  the  120,000  pounds  of  lead 
therein,  amounting  to  $900.  B  imports  another  100  tons  of 
similar  ore,  from  the  same  mine,  containing  60  tons  of  lead, 
nearly  40  tons  of  waste,  and  3,600  ounces  of  silvei  The 
lead,  as  in  the  previous  illustration,  is  valued  at  $2,400, 
while  the  silver,  happening  to  be  400  ounces  less  in  quantity, 
is  valued  at  $2,340.  Presto  again  and  we  have  lead  ore,  and 
duty  is  assessed  and  collected  on  the  entire  importation  of 
200,000  pounds.  Does  it  not  strike  you,  gentlemen,  as  some- 
what absurd  that  a  paltry  difference  of  $60  in  the  valuation 
of  the  two  metals  should  determine  the  character  of  the 
ore  and  compel  the  payment  of  $600  additional  duty  on 
80,000  pounds  of  useless  substance." 

At  the  hearings  of  January,  1897,  no  one  appeared  be- 
fore the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means  to  plead  the  cause 
of  zinc  ore.  The  final  draft  of  that  bill  gave  the  lead  miners 
and  the  lead  smelters  all  they  had  asked  and  much  more,  for 
paragraph  181  provides  that: 

"Lead  bearing  ore  of  all  kinds"  shall  be  dutiable  at 
"li  cents  per  pound  on  the  lead  contained  therein." 

Congress  unconsciously  stabbed  the  zinc  miners  in  the 
back,  as  recent  events  have  proved.  The  policy  of  the  domi- 
nant party  in  Congress  at  that  time  was  "protection,"  and 
for  the  mere  asking,  zinc  ores  could  have  received  the  lib- 
eral consideration  of  the  Legislature. 

The  paragraph  181  in  reference  to  "lead-bearing  ore" 
was  passed  to  avoid  the  absurdities  which  for  twenty  years 
had  existed  in  reference  to  importations  of  silver-lead  ores. 
So  far  as  that  class  of  ore  is  concerned  the  Dingley  act  ef- 
fected a  wholesome  and  a  just  change;  because  now  lead 
bearing  ore,  containing  silver,  regardless  of  the  preponder- 
ating quantity  of  either,  pays  duty  on  the  actual  lead 
contents. 

If,  however  it  shall  be  finally  determined  that  zinc  ore 
is  a  "metallic  mineral  substance,"  what  shall  be  done  in  the 
classification  and  collection  of  duty  upon  an  importation  of 
zinc-lead  ore,  where  the  difference  in  value  of  each  metal 
therein  is  a  few  dollars  or  a  few  cents? 

Suppose  the  case  of  imported  ore,  in  which  the  metallic 
zinc  value  is  $16  per  ton  and  the  lead  contents  are  4  per 
cent. ;  and  that  the  ore  is  imported  by  a  zinc  smelter  for  the 
zinc ;  the  zinc  is  the  component  of  chief  value  and  under  the 


TARIFF  ON  ZING  ORES  229 

law  prior  to  the  act  of  1897,  would  pay  20  per  cent,  ad 
valorem  duty,  or  the  sum  of  $3.20.  But  the  importer  will 
claim  now  that  it  is  dutiable  only  on  the  4  per  cent,  lead 
contents  at  li  cents  per  pound  or  in  the  sum  of  $1.20; 
because  the  law  of  1897  says  "lead  bearing  ore  of  all  kinds" 
shall  be  dutiable;  and  having  paid  duty  as  lead  bearing 
ore,  the  right  of  the  government  is  claimed  to  be  exhausted 
to  collect  any  further  duty.  This  seems  to  be  the  principle  of 
of  construction  running  through  all  the  revenue  acts  from 
the  earliest  times. 

However,  whether  that  may  be  established  as  a  princi- 
ple of  law,  I  find  a  very  recent  decision  of  the  United  States 
Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  at  New  York  in  which  there  is  a 
slight  disposition  to  change  that  rule  and  the  broad  princi- 
ple is  laid  down  that  "in  applying  a  tariff  law,  a  single  arti- 
cle may  be  constructively  separated  into  parts  subject  to 
different  classification." 

If  this  be  the  true  principle,  then  in  the  case  of  lead-zinc 
ore  the  zinc  and  the  lead  may  be  segregated;  the  ad  valorem 
duty  taken  on  the  zinc  contents;  and  the  specific  duty  taken 
on  the  lead  contents. 

Congress  in  changing  the  language  of  the  law  from 
"lead  ore"  to  "lead  bearing  ore  of  all  kinds"  evidently  con- 
templated a  radical  change  only  in  the  case  of  silver-lead 
ores.  What  change  (if  any)  Congress  intended  to  effect  in 
the  case  of  all  other  ores  in  which  lead  enters  into  combina- 
tion is  as  yet  problematical. 

If  the  lead  ore  alone  is  dutiable,  we  have  an  absurdity 
shown  in  one  of  the  protests  now  pending  before  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Texas,  where  zinc  silicate  was  present  to  the 
amount  of  6.51  per  cent.;  zinc  carbonate  31.89  per  cent., 
in  all  38.40  per  cent,  of  zinc  contents,  worth  $16  per  ton, 
on  which  the  duty  would  be  $3.20;  and  in  which  the  lead 
contents  were  one-half  per  cent.,  on  which  the  duty  on  the 
lead  would  be  but  16  8-10  cents  per  ton. 

Ad  Valorem  Duty. 

The  question  naturally  presents  itself,  whether  an  ad 
valorem  duty  upon  zinc  ore  is  fair  protection  to  the  zinc 
miners  of  the  United  States.  Ad  valorem  duty  is  proper  and 
defensible  upon  many  classes  of  imports.  It  is  right  to  as- 
sess tariff  on  an  ad  valorem  basis  upon  expensive  paintings, 
statuary,  fabrics,  etc.,  etc.,  when  the  value  is  dependent 
upon  the  antiquity,  or  .other  intrinsic  value,  of  the  article 
imported:  no  other  satisfactory  assessment  could  be  made 
as  to  them, 


230  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

But  ad  valorem  duty  always  suggests  the  chance  of 
fraud  in  under-valuation  of  the  merchandise,  and  the  more 
inexpensive  the  imported  article,  probably  the  more  lax  are 
the  government  customs  officials  in  insisting  upon  full 
valuation. 

Lead  ore  has  been  dutiable  almost  from  time  immemo- 
rial at  a  specific  rate.  Neither  producer,  smelter,  nor  con- 
sumer has  been  heard  to  object.  Why  not  then  impose  a 
specific  duty  of  at  least  1  cent  and  possibly  1^  cents  per 
pound  upon  the  actual  zinc  contents. 

Recurring  again  to  the  hearings  before  the  Committee 
on  Ways  and  Means  in  Januar}^,  1897,  we  find  that  repre- 
sentatives of  the  lead  miners  spoke  of  the  then  menace  of 
the  Mexican  lead  mines  to  the  domestic  producers. 

Thus  a  representative  spoke  of  the  great  impetus  the 
McKinley  bill  of  1890  had  given  to  lead  mine  development 
in  San  Bernardino  county,  California;  how  the  reduction  in 
duty  of  the  Wilson  bill  had  put  quietus  upon  the  busi- 
ness; how  the  Mexican  mines  were  flooding  our  markets 
with  lead  to  the  extent  of  100,000  tons  annually;  and  how 
this  entire  foreign  production  could  be  displaced  by  the 
domestic  mines,  if  the  duty  of  the  McKinley  act  were 
restored. 

The  St.  Joseph  and  Doe  Run  Lead  Companies  of  South- 
eastern Missouri  presented  in  substance  the  same  argu- 
ments; and  further  stated  that  the  Mexican  lead  mines  had 
been  so  developed;  their  output  so  large;  their  advantage  in 
freight  rates  so  great;  and  their  scale  of  wages  so  low,  that 
they  were  absolute  masters  of  the  situation  and  that  they 
"hold  the  power  to  keep  down  the  industry  absolutely  and 
to  limit  any  tendency  in  upward  prices  in  the  domestic 
market." 

These  suggestions  as  to  conditions  in  1897  are  gravely 
important  to  the  zinc  miners  of  this  general  district  and  to 
those  also  of  Colorado,  Wisconsin,  Askansas  and  other 
states  of  the  Union  where  zinc  mining  either  is,  or  shall  be, 
a  leading  industry.  The  menace  of  Mexican  zinc  ore  today 
is  as  great  as  the  menace  of  Mexican  lead  ore  was  ten  years 
ago. 

Speaking  of  local  conditions  in  the  Missouri-Kansas  dis- 
trict, I  can  say  that  a  vast  majority  of  the  producers  have 
always  hoped  for  greater  stability  of  ore  prices.  In  the 
early  part  of  1905,  after  zinc  ore  had  reached  a  much  higher 
price  than  f 35  per  ton  of  (>0^  ore,  I  attended  a  meeting  of 
operators  who  controlled  more  than  half  the  ore  production 
of  this  district  and  a  contract  good  for  one  year  to  deliver 
pre  to  the  smelters  at  $35  per  ton  base  price  could  have  been 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  221 

effected.  The  smelters  spurned  the  offer.  Again  in  April, 
1906,  an  offer  was  actually  made  to  the  smelters  and  a  con- 
tract would  have  been  signed  to  sell  ore  based  upon  the 
quoted  St.  Louis  price  for  metal.  This  proposition  contem- 
plated a  graduated  scale  of  prices,  the  extremes  of  which 
meant  $ 40  ore  when  spelter  was  $5  and  $52  ore  when  spelter 
was  $7.  This  offer  was  rejected. 

Events  since  that  time  have  abundantly  proved 
from  the  smelter's  standpoint,  the  wisdom  of  such  a  scale  of 
prices,  had  it  been  accepted  by  them. 

As  bearing  upon  the  question  of  supply  and  demand 
in  the  zinc  ore  market  of  the  world  for  the  near  future  it 
may  not  be  unprofitable  to  cast  about  and  see  what  the 
probable  world's  supply  of  zinc  ore  may  be. 

First  of  all  the  so-called  Broken  Hill  Zinc  field,  of  New 
South  Wales,  Australia,  contains  stupendous  zinc  ore  de- 
posits in  the  heretofore  abandoned  tailings  of  the  silver-lead 
mines. 

In  November,  1905,  was  organized  "The  Zinc  Corpora- 
tion, Ltd.,"  with  offices  at  Melbourne,  Victoria,  and  a  capital 
stock  of  $2,500,000,  whose  object  was  to  purchase  and  treat 
these  tailings  to  recover  the  zinc,  lead  and  silver  contents. 
This  syndicate  then  had  secured  control  of  almost  6  million 
tons  of  tailings,  averaging  17  to  22$  zinc;  6  to  7  oz.  of  silver 
and  6  to  10$  lead  to  the  ton.  The  holdings  of  the  syndicate 
were  then  estimated  to  be  in  metallic  contents:-  900,000  tons, 
of  zinc;  22  millions  ounces  of  silver;  and  360,000  tons  of 
lead;  representing  at  that  time  at  current  market  sales  ai 
value  of  over  132  million  dollars. 

The  vast  wilderness  of  Mid-Africa  gives  promise  of 
producing  large  tonnage  of  zinc  ores.  Not  far  from  the 
great  Zambesi  Falls  zinc  is  quarried  out  of  the  kopjes  and 
calcined  on  the  spot;  it  is  50  to  60  per  cent,  zinc  and  the 
cost  of  mining  and  sending  the  ore  to  Wales  is  $19.50  per 
ton;  it  costs  $14.60  to  reduce  the  ore  to  spelter;  and  there- 
fore $34  to  make  a  ton  of  spelter.  As  the  ore  averages  50 
per  cent,  metal  the  spelter  cost  was  $68  per  ton,  when  the 
London  price  was  $130  per  ton.  Some  time  ago  it  was  esti- 
mated that  the  mineral  tonnage  in  sight  was  750,000  tons. 

For  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 1906,  free  and  dutia- 
ble zinc  ores  to  the  value  of  $813,000  (quantities  not  given 
by  collectors  of  customs)  were  imported  from  Mexico:  and 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1907,  there  were  imported  from 
the  same  country  66,500  tons  of  calamine,  valued  at  $11.79 
per  ton  and  23,000  tons  of  dutiable  zinc  ore  valued  at  $14.75 
per  ton,  making  a  total  for  the  year  of  89,500  tons  of  zinc 


232  PROCEEiDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

ore,  valued  at  the  sum  of  over  $1,123,000:  an  increase  for 
the  year  of  1906-07  of  over  38  per  cent,  over  the  value  of  the 
preceding  year. 

Colorado  for  the  year  1905  mined  zinc  ore  which  pro- 
duced four  million  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars  of  spelter  and  in  1906  the  spelter  production  was  five 
million  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  worth.  Wisconsin 
in  1906  produced  about  forty  thousand  tons  of  zinc  ores. 

It  is  well  known  that  many  newT  fields  are  being  devel- 
oped in  the  United  States;  that  the  domestic  production  of 
zinc  ore  is  rapidly  increasing;  and  that  the  annual  output  of 
the  high  grade  Missouri  mines  is  more  than  holding  its  own. 
Therefore,  the  conclusion  is  inevitable,  that  the  total  do- 
mestic production  of  zinc  ore  must  soon  supply  the  spelter 
requirements  of  the  country.  If  we  must  have  competition, 
then  let  us  compete  among  ourselves,  and  not  with  those 
who  are  not  of  our  blood  and  whose  methods  of  life  and 
ideas  of  government  are  far  beneath  our  standards. 

In  the  first  session  of  the  59th  Congress,  the  Hon.  C.  M. 
Shartel  introduced  House  Bill  3030,  which  was  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means  and  ordered  to  be 
printed.  The  bill  was  introduced  by  request  of  the  ore  pro- 
ducers of  this  district  and  has  never  been  reported  by  the 
committee. 

This  bill  possesses  many  good  features  and,  if  it  were 
now  law,  would  undoubtedly  give  the  domestic  zinc  miners 
a  fair  modicum  of  protection.  It  provides  for  a  specific  duty 
of  1  cent  per  pound  upon  the  zinc  contained  in  all  zinc-bear- 
ing ores.  Section  2  provides : 

"That  the  term  'zinc-bearing  ores'  means  all  ores, 
whether  crude,  concentrated  or  otherwise,  which  contain 
zinc  in  any  form  or  condition,  either  free  or  in  combination, 
and  in  which  the  zinc  is  of  more  value  than  any  other  single 
component,  irrespective  of  whether  such  ores  are  lead-bear- 
ing ores  or  not.  Such  value  shall  be  determined  as  of  the 
time  and  place  of  importation." 

The  draughtsman  of  this  bill  is  a  gentleman  long  expe- 
rienced in  the  practice  of  tariff  law  and  it  may  seem  self- 
flattering  for  me  to  raise  objections  thereto. 

But  we  find  the  bogey  of  "component  material  of  chief 
value"  between  lead  and  zinc  expressly  provided  for  in  the 
above  quoted  section.  The  bill  should  be  so  drawn  as  to 
relieve  us  of  such  tribulation. 

The  zinc  ore  and  lead  ore  importers  should  not  be  rele- 
gated to  the  situation  which  existed  prior  to  the  McKinley 
act  of  1890,  between  silver  and  lead  ores. 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  233 


Suppose  the  average  stable  price  of  lead  ore  to  be 
per  ton  and  that  of  zinc  ore  to  be  $45  per  ton;  and  the 
specific  duty  on  lead  to  be  1J  cents  per  pound  on  the  lead 
contents;  and  upon  zinc  to  be  1  cent  per  pound  on  the  zinc 
contents.  It  will  be  found  that  1143  pounds  of  zinc  ore 
exactly  equals  in  value  857  pounds  of  lead  ore.  The  duty 
on  the  zinc  contents  is  $11.43(;  the  duty  on  the  lead  contents 
is  |12.85;  a  difference  of  $1.42i  more  for  the  lead  contents. 

~N.O'  Mexican  mine  probably  produces  such  ore;  but  what 
nature  has  failed  to  do  artificial  means  may  dor,  if  it  should 
prove  profitable  to  the  importer  to  try  it.  I  speak  not  of 
probability  but  possibility.  While  the  mixing  of  ores  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  favorable  tariff  duty  may  involve 
moral  turpitude,  it  seems  not  to  be  a  fraud  against  the  gov- 
ernment. 

The  treasury  department  many  years  ago  (T.  D.  9492) 
issued  stringent  regulations  prohibiting  the  mixing  of  ores 
to  raise  the  silver  contents  and  thereby  escape  the  duty  on 
the  component  lead  contents.  Yet  we  find  in  one  case  (In  re 
Chichester,  48  Fed.  281)  the  deliberate  mixing  of  the  ores 
from  several  mines,  so  as  to  give  the  ores  a  high  content  of 
silver,  and  to  make  the  importation  dutiable  only  on  the 
lead  contained,  instead  of  on  its  gross  weight  as  lead  ore. 
Upon  appeal  to  the  board  of  general  appraisers  it  was  held 
that  "there  is  nothing"  in  the  law  "to  warrant  a  discrimina- 
tion against  the  importation  of  mixed  ores.  *  *  *  There 
is  no  such  *  *  *  prohibition  in  regard  to  ores  of  any 
kind,  and  no  such  discrimination  can  be  lawfully  made, 
except  after  further  legislation  by  Congress." 

The  case  was  appealed  to  the  Circuit  Court  of  the 
United  States,  but  the  main  question  was  left  undecided. 
For  a  long  time  since  then  the  mixing  of  ores  still  continued 
in  reliance  upon  the  opinion  of  the  board. 

So  with  the  fluctuating  prices  of  lead  and  zinc  ores,  it 
might  be  profitable  to  import  lead  and  zinc  ores  so  mixed, 
and  after  importation  by  concentration  to  separate  the  two 
minerals  at  a  low  cost  a^d  market  each  at  the  appropriate 
smelter. 

The  equitable  procedure  seems  to  be  to  cast  to  the  winds 
the  classification  by  component  material  of  chief  value  and' 
impose  the  specific  duty  on  the  lead  and  on  the  zinc,  con- 
tained in  the  same  importation.  Under  such  law,  the  lead 
smelter  will  import  for  the  lead  contents  and  the  zinc  smel- 
ter for  the  zinc  contents.  There  will  be  no  object  for  chi- 
canery; and  protection  is  dispensed  with  an  even  hand  to 
both  lead  and  zinc  producers  of  the  United  States. 


234  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

I  believe  the  bill  should  contain  a  specific  repeal  of 
par.  514,  which  places  calamine  (an  ore  of  zinc)  upon  the  free 
list;  and  should  make  5t  dutiable  as  a  zinc  ore.  There  would 
then  no  loophole  for  rrgument  as  to  the  implied  repeal 
of  that  paragraph. 

Whether  1  cent  per  pound  duty  on  the  zinc  contents  of 
the  ore  is  adequate  protection  is  a  question  of  perplexity. 
It  may  be  assumed  that  the  price  of  zinc  ore  and  the  con- 
sequent price  of  spelter  may  be  put  so  high  that  the  con- 
sumer may  curtail  in  large  part  his  use  of  the  metal  and  use 
a  substitute  which  may  be  procured  at  a  less  price.  To  this 
extent  the  demand  for  a  specfic  duty  on  zinc  ore  must  be 
exercised  with  discretion. 

It  is  interesting,  however,  to  note  that  $60  lead,  80 
per  cent  standard,  and  $45  zinc,  60  per  cent  standard,  sell 
for  exactly  the  same  price  per  pound  of  metallic  contents. 

But  during  the  years  1905  and  1906  4ind  the  nine  months 
of  1907  the  Joplin  price  of  lead  ore  has  averaged  $71.04  and 
the  price  of  zinc  ore  has  averaged  $45.51  per  ton. 

The  fact  that  the  metallic  lead  has  brought  almost  .89 
of  a  cent  per  pound  and  that  metallic  zinc  has  brought  a  lit- 
tle more  than  f  of  a  cent  per  pound,  may  be  significant.  Is 
the  fact  that  lead  ore  has  sold  20  per  cent,  higher  than  zinc 
ore  due  to  the  protective  duty  upon  lead?  Would  zinc  ore 
have  sold  higher  had  the  law  given  adequate  protection 
to  it? 

The  fair  query  then  is,  why,  if  for  years  the  duty  of 
li  cents  per  pound  on  lead  has  proved  satisfactory  to  the 
producer,  smelter,  and  consumer  of  lead,  is  not  the  same 
rate  equitable  for  zinc  ore? 

Not  including  the  production  of  New  Jersey,  we  find 
that  the  domestic  production  of  zinc  ore  for  the  year  1904 
was  413,000  short  tons;  for  1905,  434,000  tons— an  increase 
of  5  per  cent;  and  for  1906,  500,000  tons,  an  increase  of  15 
pei*  cent. 

The  importation  of  zinc  ore  for  1904  was  an  unknown 
quantity;  in  1905  it  was  41,000  tons,  about  9i  per  cent,  of 
the  domestic  production;  and  for  1906  it  was  89,500  tons  or 
18  per  cent,  of  the  domestic  production;  and  about  31J 
per  cent,  of  the  entire  Missouri-Kansas  output. 

In  1906  the  imports  of  lead  were  about  16  per  cent,  of 
the  domestic  production. 

It  is  undeniable  that  with  the  rapid  development  of 
Mexico,  the  building  of  railroads,  and  the  future  discovery 
of  mineral  products,  the  United  States  will  be  more  and 
more  the  outlet  and  market  for  these  zinc  ores.  The  extor* 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  235 

tionate  price  of  fuel  in  Mexico  almost  precludes  the  smelting 
of  ores  there. 

If  the  Mexican  export  of  zinc  ore  in  1906  was  over  31 
per  cent,  of  the  production  of  this  district,  who  can  tell 
what  it  will  be  for  1907  or  prophesy  its  magnitude  in  1908 
and  succeeding  years?  How  are  we  to  know  whether  the 
vast  product  of  Australia  may  not  seek  a  market  here? 

It  behooves  the  zinc  producer  of  the  United  States  to 
guard  well  the  future.  Unless  a  tariff  is  demanded  of  Con- 
gress and  secured  which  will  be  protection  to  the  fullest 
extent,  it  may  be  a  sorry  day  for  the  mine  operator  and  the 
mine  laborer  too. 

The  smelter  has  always  been  alert  to  his  interests,  for 
there  is  duty  on  all  manufactured  forms  of  zinc;  zinc  in 
blocks  or  pigs,  is  protected  by  a  duty  of  1J  cents  per  pound ; 
in  sheets,  two  cents  per  pound ;  and  even  zinc  "old  and  worn 
out,  fit  only  to  be  remanufactured,  one  cent  per  pound." 

Even  "articles  or  wares  *  *  composed  wholly 
or  in  part  of  *  *  *  zinc  *  *  ,  and  whether  partly 
or  wholly  manufactured,"  have  a  high  protective  wall 
around  them  of  45  per  cent  ad  valorem. 

The  paint  schedule  says  that  zinc  oxide  and  white  paint 
or  pigment  containing  zinc,  shall  be  dutiable  at  one  cent  per 
pound;  when  ground  in  oil  1J  cents  per  pound:  white  sul- 
phide of  zinc  li  cents  per  pound;  and  chloride  of  zinc  and 
sulphate  of  zinc  one  cent  per  pound.  The  producer  of  the 
raw  material  alone  is  without  his  protection. 

Along  the  lines  suggested  in  this  paper,  I  venture  to 
propose  a  form  of  bill,  placing  a  duty  on  zinc  ore,  which,  if 
Congressional  action  can  be  secured  before  a  probable  gen- 
eral revision  of  the  tariff  subject,  is  so  moulded  as  to  be  an 
amendment  to  the  lead  paragraph  of  the  Dingley  Act  of 
1897.  It  fully  meets  the  requirements  of  the  domestic  zinc 
miner,  it  is  adverse  to  no  interest  of  the  domestic  lead  miner 
or  smelter,  and  it  is  confidently  believed  to  be  free  of  the 
apparently  objectionable  features  which  are  contained  in 
said  House  bill  3030. 

An  Act  to  define  the  duty  on  lead  bearing  ore  and  zinc  bear- 
ing ore  and  to  determine  the  method  of  sampling  and  assaying  the 
same;  to  amend  paragraph  181  and  to  repeal  paragraph  514  of  an 
Act,  approved  July  24,  1897,  entitled,  "An  Act  To  provide  revenue 
for  the  Government  and  to  encourage  the  industries  of  the  United 
States;"  and  for  other  purposes. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, That  paragraph  181  of  an  Act,  approved  July  24,  1897, 
entitled,  "An  Act  to  provide  revenue  for  the  government 


236  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

and  to  encourage  the  industries  of  the  United  States,"  bo, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows, 
viz: — 

181.  Lead-bearing  ore  of  all  kinds,  one  and  one- 
half  cents  per  pound  on  the  lead  contained  therein; 
zinc-bearing  ore  of  all  kinds,  including  calamine,  one 
cent  per  pound  on  the  zinc  contained  therein :  Provided, 
that  all  ores  imported,  which  shall  contain  both  lead 
and  zinc,  shall  pay;  the  above  specified  duty  upon  the 
lead  contained  therein  and  also  upon  the  zinc  contained 
therein:  And  provided  further,  that  on  all  importations 
of  lead-bearing  ores  and  of  zinc-bearing  ores  the  duties 
shall  be  estimated  at  the  port  of  entry  and  a  bond  given 
in  double  the  amount  of  such  estimated  duties  for  the 
transportation  of  the  ores  by  common  carriers  bonded 
for  the  transportation  of  appraised  or  unappraised  mer- 
chandise to  properly  equipped  sampling  or  smelting  es- 
tablishments, whether  designated  as  bonded  ware- 
houses or  otherwise.  On  the  arrival  of  the  ores  at  such 
establishments  they  shall  be  sampled  according  to 
commercial  methods  under  the  supervision  of  govern- 
ment officers,  who  shall  be  stationed  at  such  establish- 
ments and  who  shall  submit  the  samples  thus  ob- 
tained to  a  government  assay er,  designated  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury,  who  shall  make  a  proper  assay 
of  the  sample,  and  report  the  result  to  the  proper  cus- 
toms officers,  and  the  import  entries  shall  be  liquidated 
thereon,  except  in  case  of  ores  that  shall  be  removed 
to  a  bonded  warehouse  to  be  refined  for  exportation  as 
provided  by  law.  And  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
is  authorized  to  make  all  necessary  regulations  to 
enforce  the  provisions  of  this  paragraph. 

Sec.  2.  That  paragraph  514  of  said  recited  Act,  and 
all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of 
this  act  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby,  repealed. 

Sec.  3.  That  this  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force 
upon  its  passage  and  approval. 

And  now  may  I  engage  for  a  short  while  in  discussing 
a  matter  not  exactly  germane  to  the  main  subject — the 
question  of  policy  of  the  domestic  zinc  operators  in  demand- 
ing a  specific  duty  on  zinc  ore?  Regardless  of  party  creed, 
all  operators  of  this  district  demand  an  adequate  import 
duty  upon  the  mineral.  We  are  now  a  unit  in  the  court  liti- 
gation seeking  to  impose  on  zinc  ore  a  meager  protective 
duty  of  20  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


TARIFF  ON  ZINC  ORES  237 

The  Joplin  zinc  industry  10  years  ago  was  in  value  3 
and  3-4  million  dollars;  five  years  ago  about  eight  million 
dollars;  last  year  over  fifteen  million  dollars.  The  value  of 
production  still  increases.  And  while  the  local  mining  in- 
dustry is  not  exactly  infantile:  the  districts  of  Wisconsin, 
Colorado  and  elsewhere  are  of  more  tender  age;  and  the 
aggregations  of  districts  needs  protection. 

The  domestic  operators  produce  the  raw  material,  and 
have  no  protection ;  the  smelter  sells  the  manufactured  pro- 
duct and  enjoys  adequate  protection.  It  is  the  same  situa- 
tion which  confronted  the  farmers  under  the  Wilson  Bill  :— 
free  trade  in  raw  wool — tariff  on  woolen  textiles.  The  Ding- 
ley  bill  righted  that  wrong;  you  all  well  know  the  result. 

Five  years  ago  six  to  ten  thousand  dollars  was  the  cost 
of  an  average  mill  under  the  then  existing  mining  condi- 
tions; today,  fifteen  to  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  is  the 
price  of  a  good  plant  under  our  present  mining  system. 
Years  ago,  short  lived  soft  ground  mines,  with  high  mineral 
values,  were  operated :  today  less  than  three  per  cent,  sheet 
ground  mines  with  large  mineral  area,  are  profitably  oper- 
ated; then  wages  were  much  lower  and  labor  hours  longer: 
today  wages  are  very  high  and  the  eight  hour  underground 
law  is  rigidly  enforced.  High  wages  and  the  labor  law  are 
not  objected  to  by  the  mine  operator,  other  things  being 
equal. 

If  the  smelter  succeeds  in  the  present  tariff  suit  and  no 
duty  is  placed  on  zinc  ore,  then  one  of  two  results  must  fol- 
low, either  the  low  grade  sheet  ground  properties  must  close 
indefinitely  or  else  the  price  of  supplies  and  labor  must  be 
largely  reduced.  Labor  amounts  to  sixty  per  cent,  of  the 
operating  cost.  We  prefer  to  pay  to  labor  the  present  prices 
and  have  an  adequate  stable  price  for  our.  mineral  output. 

The  average  importation  of  zinc  ore  from  Mexico  still 
continues;  for  the  months  of  July,  Aug.  and  Sept.,  1907,  it 
aggregated  22,000  tons.  If  we  must  compete  with  Mexican 
ore,  then  in  a  way  we  are  driven  to  compete  with  Mexican 
mining  conditions.  To  the  miners,  I  assure  you,  this  is  no 
dream. 

Let  me  call  your  attention  to  the  wage  scale  of  a  large 
Mexican  mine.    These  figures  are  authentic: 
Mine  Employes: — 

Foreman $2.85  to  $5.00  per  day 

Shift  Boss,  8  hours 1.71  to    2.14     " 

Hoistmen,  8  hours   2.00 

Common  laborers,  12  hours .25  to     1.00     "       " 

Muckers,  8  hours .65     " 

Blacksmiths,  12  hours .75  to     1.75     "       " 


238  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

Blacksmith  helpers,  12  hours .35  per  day 

Compressormen,  12  hours 1.28 

Mill  Employes:— 

Clerk,  8  hours $18.00  per  week 

Ore  Weigher,  8  hours 10.00 

Wilfley  Concentrator  man,  8  hours 1.50  day 

Zinc  room  man,  8  hours 3.00 

Common  laborer,  8  hours 38  cts  to     1.00 

These  figures  are  in  Mexican  coin;  worth  less  than  one- 
half  the  value  of  U.  S.  money.  Compared  to  the  scale  of 
wages  existing  here,  the  Mexican  wages  are  one-ninth  to 
one-half  our  scale  of  prices. 

There  are  at  least  8,000  miners  in  this  district;  the 
weekly  pay  roll  probably  reaches  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  money  is 
immediately  circulated  among  local  merchants.  Cut  this 
by  one-fourth  or  one-half  and  the  result  would  be  most  dis- 
astrous to  general  business. 

Protection  in  principle  is  intended  to  foster  infant  indus- 
try; also  to  prevent  ruinous  competition  of  foreign  trade 
with  established  domestic  industry;  and  last,  but  not  least, 
to  enable  the  domestic  industrial  concern  to  pay  a  higher 
wage  to  labor  than  it  could  do  if  subjected  to  foreign  com- 
petition based  on  the  wage  of  the  laborer  who  is  un-Ameri- 
can in  habits,  may  be  semi-civilized;  and  whose  living  neces- 
sities may  be  measured  by  scant  requirements.  Adequate 
tariff  duty  on  zinc  ores  is  defensible  under  all  three  of  the 
heads  above  mentioned. 

It  is  safe  to  assume  that  domestic  investment  in  zinc 
mines  is  many  fold  in  excess  of  the  amount  of  investment  in 
smelters.  As  an  industry  the  mining  is  of  greater  financial 
importance  than  is  the  smelting  of  ore.  The  golden  rule  of 
business  and  legislation  therefore  should  be  to  give  ade- 
quate protection  to  the  producer  of  the  raw  product,  as  well 
as  to  the  manufacturer  of  the  metal. 

It  is  said  that  the  recent  reported  increase  in  Mexican 
freight  rates,  by  order  of  the  president  of  that  country,  will 
eliminate  zinc  ore  shipments  to  the  U.  S.  and  relieve  us  of 
the  need  of  statutory  protection.  My  answer  to  that  propo- 
sition is  that  the  domestic  operator  and  laborer  should  have 
the  situation  more  securely  in  hand,  than  it  possibly  can 
have  when  its  dependence  is  based  upon  some  foreign  poten- 
tate's embargo,  or  the  whim  of  a  railroad  directorate. 

The  domestic  zinc  mine  operator  must  have  the  bul- 
wark of  specific  duty.  And  to  your  Senators  and  Represen- 
tatives, from  now  on,  let  that  be  your  unceasing  slogan. 


How    Long   Will    Our  Coal   Supplies   Meet   the   Increasing   Demands  of 

Commerce  ? 


BY   EDWARD   W.   PARKER,    WASHINGTON,   D.    C. 

The  story  is  told  ill  Canada  of  an  old  lady  whose  faith 
is  of  the  kind  that  moveth  mountains.  She  lived  some  dis- 
tance from  the  beaten  paths  of  commerce,  and  modern  meth- 
ods of  heating  and  lighting  were  unknown  to  her.  But  one 
day  her  son,  who  had  been  "to  the  city,"  brought  home  with 
him  a  kerosene  lamp  and  a  can  of  oil.  She  naturally  in- 
quired what  the  oil  was  and  whence  it  came,  and  on  learn- 
ing that  it  was  petroleum  or  rock  oil,  she  commanded  her 
son  to  take  it  back — she  would  have  none  of  it.  She  could 
not  understand  the  wickedness  of  men  who  were  stealing 
from  the  Lord  the  fuel  that  He  had  stored  in  the  world  for 
the  purpose  of  consuming  it  when  time  should  be  no  more. 

We  are  not  called  upon  to  interpret  in  what  manner 
the  promise  of  the  destruction  of  the  world  by  fire  shall  be 
brought  about,  but  certain  it  is  that  man  is  consuming  at 
an  enormous  rate  not  only  the  combustible  material  stored 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground,  but  we  are  told  by  Mr. 
Pinchot  that  the  forests  that  formerly  seemed  inexhaustible 
will  have  been  practically  destroyed  by  the  middle  of  the 
present  century,  if  the  present  rate  of  destruction  continues. 
The  use  of  wood  for  fuel  is  not  so  great  proportionately 
today  as  it  was  a  century  ago,  but  other  demands  upon  the 
forests  have  taken  its  place.  A  recent  report  of  the  Forest 
Service  states  that  the  present  annual  consumption  of  fire- 
wood is  about  100,000,000  cords,  valued  at  $350,000,000,  and 
that  the  total  forestry  consumption  represents  about  20  bil- 
lion cubic  feet,  worth  nearly  f  1,100,000,000.  The  consump- 
tion of  lumber  has  increased  more  rapidly  than  the  popula- 
tion. My  reason  for  referring  in  this  paper  to  the  forest 
destruction  will  be  shown  later. 

The  subject  assigned  to  me  for  this  meeting  by  jour 
distinguished  secretary  is  "How  Long  Will  the  Supply  of 
Coal  Meet  the  Increasing  Demands  of  Commerce?"  The 
question  is  one  to  which,  of  course,  no  accurate  reply  could 
be  given,  for  the  answer  is  predicated  upon  the  determina- 
tion of  one  unknown  and  unascertainable  quantity,  and 
that  is  the  rate  of  increase  which  the  demands  of  commerce 
will  take.  Other  and  scarcely  less  important  factors  also 
enter  into  the  solution  of  the  problem.  Among  these  maj 
be  mentioned  the  improvement  which  must  be  brought 


240  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

about  in  (1)  the  methods  of  mining,  assuring  a  greater  per- 
centage of  recovery  from  the  mines  and  a  larger  proportion 
of  usable  fuel  and  less  waste  and  inferior  coal  (by  inferior 
coal  I  mean  slack  coal  or  fines  which  are  sold  at  low  prices, 
or  not  at  all);  (2)  processes  for  using  economically  the  slack 
or  low  grade  coal;  (3)  more  efficient  methods  of  combustion 
which  will  increase  output  of  energy  per  unit  of  fuel  con- 
sumed; (4)  the  utilization  of  other  forces  of  nature  which 
will  to  greater  or  less  extent  diminish  the  drain  upon  our 
coal  supplies.  Much  is  already  being  done  and  more  will  be 
done  in  the  development  of  better  methods  in  the  mining, 
preparation  and  utilization  of  coal.  The  government, 
through  the  Technologic  branch  of  the  United  States  Geo- 
logical Survey,  is  spending  thousands  of  dollars  in  the  wav 
of  scientific  investigation  of  fuel  utilization,  and  although 
this  work  is  of  recent  inauguration,  having  had  its  inception 
at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  highly  valuable  re- 
sults have  been  obtained,  and  these  are  being  published 
and  gratuitously  given  to  the  public  as  fast  as  they  can  be 
compiled  and  published.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  go  into 
these,  as  I  understand  you  are  to  have  a  paper  by  Prof. 
Joseph  A.  Holmes,  under  whose  direction  this  work  is  being 
conducted.  I  will  only  mention  the  fact  that  one  of  the 
results  accomplished  during  the  Exposition  period  was  the 
demonstration  that  producer  gas  for  power  purposes  could 
be  made  from  bituminous  coal  and  lignites  with  an  increase 
of  from  200  tp  300  per  cent,  over  the  efficiency  obtained  from 
a  steam  power  plant.  It  is  significant,  too,  that  when  one 
of  the  gas  engine  manufacturers  was  approached  with  a 
proposition  to  install  one  of  his  engines  as  a  working  exhibit 
at  the  St.  Louis  Exposition,  the  proposition  was  declined 
because  of  want  of  belief  that  producer  gas  from  bitumin- 
ous coal  could  be  so  used.  I  speak  from  personal  knowledge 
on  this  point,  for  I  did  the  approaching.  One  of  the  coals 
successfully  used  at  this  exposition  plant  was  a  California 
black  lignite  or  sub-bituminous  coal  containing  8  per  cent, 
sulphur.  I  am  informed  by  Prof.  Fernald,  in  charge  of  the 
producer  gas  investigations  of  the  Technologic  branch,  that 
66  2-3  per  cent  of  the  power  represented  by  the  installation 
of  producer  gas  plants  during  the  last  year  are  for  using 
bituminous  coal,  while  80  per  cent,  of  the  number  of  plants 
are  designed  for  anthracite. 

As  to  the  utilization  of  other  forces,  the  development  in 
the  harnessing  of  water  courses  which  has  been  made  possi- 
ble through  the  long  distance  transmission  of  power  by 
electricity  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  present  time.  The 
great  Susquehanna  river  is  being  dammed  at  McCalls  Ferry, 


242  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose  of  sending  power  electrically 
to  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia,  two  cities  a  hundred  miles 
apart.  The  power  of  Niagara  Falls  is  being  utilized  to  a 
great  extent  already,  and  it  is  a  momentous  question  as  to 
whether  we  can  better  afford  to  permit  what  remains  to  be 
used  for  power  or  to  preserve  it  as  one  of  nature's  art  works. 
Is  it  better  to  use  it  for  utilitarian  purposes  or  for  its  beauty 
and  grandeur?  I  am  sufficiently  uncommercial  to  hope  for 
the  latter. 

As  to  the  interesting  demands  of  commerce  on  our  coal 
supply,  our  only  method  of  forming  an  opinion  on  this  point 
is  from  what  has  preceded  (as  Patrick  Henry  once  remarked, 
"We  have  no  way  of  judging  of  the  future  but  by  the  past"). 
And  our  past,  so  far  as  coal  mining  is  concerned,  presents  an 
interesting  history.  I  have  prepared  and  present  here  a 
chart  which  illustrates  better  than  I  can  tell  in  figures  the 
rapid,  almost  phenomenal,  growth  of  our  coal  mining  indus- 
try. It  shows  the  total  production  of  coal  in  the  United 
States  for  each  ten  years  to  the  close  of  1905.  Each  decade 
shows  an  output  approximately  double  that  of  the  preceding 
one,  which  means  that  the  production  in  each  ten  years  has 
been  equal  to  the  production  up  to  the  beginning  of  that 
decade.  How  long  can  or  will  this  continue?  Let  us  prolong 
the  curve  as  it  would  show  for  the  future  if  this  history  were 
to  continue.  I  have  done  this  on  another  chart,  which  is  on 
a  scale  of  about  one-eighth  of  the  one  showing  our  record  in 
the  past.  It  will  be  noticed  that  while  the  production  has 
approximately  doubled,  there  is  a  decreasing  ratio  in  the 
percentage  of  increase  during  each  decade.  For  instance, 
the  total  production  of  coal  .from  the  earliest  times  to  the 
close  of  1845  was  nearly  28,000,000  tons.  In  the  decade  for 
1846  to  1855,  inclusive,  the  production  was  something  over 
83,000,000  tons,  or  practically  three  times  the  total  produc- 
tion to  the  beginning  of  that  decade.  In  the  ten  years  end- 
ing in  1865,  the  total  production  was  174,000,000,  an  increase 
of  about  TO  per  cent,  over  the  total  production  for  the  begin- 
ning of  that  decade,  but  this  was  the  period  in  which  the 
Civil  War  occurred,  and  coal  mining,  like  all  other  indus- 
tries, suffered  a  relapse.  Moreover,  the  records  of  produc- 
tion for  that  period  are  incomplete,  and  it  is  possible  that 
the  actual  tonnage  was  more  than  we  have  recorded.  In 
the  ten  years  from  1866  to  1875,  the  coal  production 
amounted  to  nearly  420,000,000  tons,  and  it  was  in  this 
decade  that  the  wonderful  development  in  the  coal  mining 
industry  actually  began.  The  production  for  this  ten  years 
was  two  and  one-half  times  that  of  the  preceding  ten  years 
and  was  35,000,000  tons  in  excess  of  the  total  production  up 


OUR  COAL  SUPPLIES  243 

to  the  beginning  of  the  decade.  In  the  following  decade 
(that  ending  in  1885)  the  production  was  again  somewhat 
more  than  doubled,  but  not  in  the  same  proportion  as  in  the 
preceding  ten  years.  The  production  in  the  decade  ending 
in  1895  was  87  per  cent,  larger  than  that  of  the  preceding 
one  and  was  over  30,000,000  tons  in  excess  of  the  total  pro- 
duction to  the  close  of  1885.  In  the  ten  years  from  1896  to 
1905  this  country  produced  2,832,403,000  tons,  an  increase 
of  78.5  per  cent,  over  the  preceding  ten  years. 

If  we  can  assume  that  the  production  will  continue  to 
increase  with  the  decreasing  percentage  ratio,  the  produc- 
tion for  the  decade  ending  in  1915  would  be  60  per  cent,  over 
that  of  the  decade  ending  in  1905,  and  the  total  production 
for  the  ten  years  would  be  4,530,000,000  tons,  or  an  average 
of  453,000,000  tons  per  year  (our  production  last  year  was 
414,000,000).  In  the  next  ten  years  there  would  be  an  in- 
crease of  54  per  cent,  and  the  production  for  the  ten  years 
would  amount  to  something  over  6,600,000,000  tons.  If  we 
prolong  the  curve  in  this  way  for  another  hundred  and  fifty 
years  we  find  that  the  production  would  become  fairly  con- 
stant between  2046  and  2055,  with  a  decennial  production 
of  approximately  2,300,000,000  tons  a  year,  as  compared 
with  the  production  of  the  present  time  of  something  over 
400,000,000  tons. 

The  anthracite  fields  of  Pennsylvania  have  been  pretty 
thoroughly  studied,  and  it  is  generally  accepted  that  if  the 
production  were  to  continue  at  the  present  rate  of  about 
65,000,000  long  tons  a  year,  the  supply  would  be  practically 
exhausted  in  between  70  and  80  years.  It  is  not  to  be 
assumed,  however,  that  the  production  will  be  maintained 
at  this  rate  and  then  suddenly  cease,  but  that  the  decline 
would  be  gradual,  and  with  possibly  an  increase  in  the  per- 
centage of  recovery  of  the  coal  in  the  ground  the  total 
exhaustion  of  the  fields  will  be  put  off  for  150  to  200  years, 

Mr.  M.  E.  Campbell,  in  charge  of  the  economic  geology 
of  fuel,  has  prepared  with  much  care  an  estimate  of  the  con 
tents  of  our  bituminous  coal  fields,  and  he  places  the  quan- 
1ity  of  coal  in  the  ground  when  mining  first  began  at  2,200,- 
000,000,000  tons.  From  this  there  has  been  extracted,  to 
the  close  of  1906,  about  4,625,000,000  tons,  and  estimating 
that  for  every  ton  of  coal  mined  there  is  half  a  ton  lost,  this 
represents  an  exhaustion  of  nearly  7,000,000,000  tons,  or 
32  hundredths  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  supply.  If  we  estimate 
that  by  2055  the  production  would  amount  to  2,300,000,000 
tons  annually,  and  the  percentage  of  recovery  remains  the 
same,  the  supply,  in  the  light  of  present  knowledge,  would 
be  exhausted  in  approximately  700  years.  I  am  convinced, 


H096tf.il  -  C98t    I 


I  ^e  ill  C8  -  SfBI    I 


OUR  COAL  SUPPLIES  245 

however,  that  before  we  have  proceeded  many  years  further 
our  methods  of  mining  and  our  methods  of  fuel  consumption 
will  have  so  improved  that  this  waste  will  be  materially 
decreased  and  that  our  descendants  will  recover  from  90  to 
95  per  cent,  of  the  supply.  This  is  being  done  in  some  regions 
at  the  present  time.  This  and  the  investigation  of  other 
forces  of  nature's  may  put  off  for  many  years  the  date  of 
complete  exhaustion. 

I  should  like  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  great 
increase  in  our  production  of  coal  has  been  due  to  our  indus- 
trial development.  In  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  when 
the  population  of  this  country  was  23,191,876  persons,  the 
total  amount  of  coal  produced  in  one  year  was  about  six 
and  a  half  million  tons.  This  represents  a  per  capita  con- 
sumption of  a  little  more  than  one-fourth  of  a  ton.  Ten 
3rears  later  the  consumption  was  a  little  over  one-half  of  a 
ton  per  capita.  It  should  be  remembered  that  at  this  time 
a  large  amount  of  the  fuel  used  for  household  purposes,  and 
to  a  considerable  degree  for  manufacturing  purposes  also, 
was  wood.  In  1880  the  consumption  of  coal  had  increased 
to  one  and  one-half  tons  per  capita  and  in  1906  it  is  esti- 
mated that  the  per  capita  consumption  was  almost  exactly 
five  tons  of  coal.  So  that  in  a  little  over  50  years  the  per 
capita  consumption  has  increased  from  one-fourth  of  a  ton 
to  five  tons — twenty  times.  It  might  be  well  to  mention 
here  that  the  fuel  consumption  of  wood  in  the  middle  of  the 
last  century  is  possibly  more  than  replaced  by  our  present 
consumption  of  petroleum  and  natural  gas,  for  in  addition 
to  the  coal  consumed  in  1906  we  used  nearly  400,000,000,- 
000  cubic  feet  of  natural  gas  and  126,500,000  barrels  of  pe 
troleum.  The  natural  gas  consumed  was  equivalent  to 
approximately  18,000,000  tons  of  coal.  About  80  per  cent, 
of  the  petroleum  produced,  or  say  100,000,000,  was  burned 
in  making  light  or  heat,  which  would  have  been  equal  to  the 
consumption  of  25,000,000  tons  of  coal. 

As  I  have  stated,  our  production  of  coal  in  1906  was  414,- 
000,000  short  tons.  The  total  production  of  the  world  was 
1,000,000,000,  short  tons.  In  the  combustion  of  each  pound 
of  coal  about  two  and  one-third  pounds  of  oxygen  are  taken 
out  of  our  atmosphere  and  three  and  one-third  pounds  of 
carbonic  acid  are  given  off.  Take  the  combustion  of  the 
United  States  product  alone  and  ignoring  what  additional 
supply  is  added  by  the  consumption  of  oil  and  gas  by  the 
exhalation  of  man  and  animals,  the  quantity  of  carbonic 
acid  thrown  into  the  atmosphere  last  year  by  the  consump- 
tion of  coal  in  this  country  was  approximately  3,000,000,000,- 
000  pounds.  What,  becomes  of  it?  One  of  thegreat  consumers 


246  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

of  carbonic  acid  is  the  forests,  and  these,  as  I  have  pointed 
out,  are  being  used  up  even  faster  than  the  coal.  It  is  true 
that  the  cultivation  of  our  farms  and  the  raising  of  our 
enormous  crops  of  corn,  of  wheat,  of  hay,  of  vegetables,  etc., 
provide  for  the  consumption  of  this  product  of  fuel  com- 
bustion, but  will  they  be  able  to  do  so  if  we  continue  to- 
rn crease  the  production  and  consumption  of  coal  as  indi- 
cated by  the  chart?  One  scientist  has  told  me  that  the  corn 
crop  of  Kansas  will  take  up  as  much  carbon  dioxide  as  all 
the  trees  cut  in  a  year.  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  deny  it,  but 
I  am  inclined  to  doubt  it.  On  the  other  hand,  leaf  decay  and 
the  oxidation  of  plant  life  year  by  year,  form  another  source 
of  carbon  dioxide  which  probably  equals  the  consumption 
of  it  by  growing  vegetation.  In  fact,  no  less  an  authority 
than  Kelvin  has  been  credited  with  the  prediction  that  the 
supply  of  oxygen  will  be  used  up  before  the  supply  of  carbon 
as  represented  by  our  coal  beds  and  forests.  This  would 
produce  a  condition  that  would  make  the  earth  uninhabita- 
ble by  man,  but,  before  that  time  arrives,  we  may  rest 
assured  that  man's  genius  will  have  so  subdued  and  utilized 
the  forces  of  nature  that  the  need  for  the  combustion  of  fuel 
in  the  production  of  heat,  light  and  power,  will  have  passed. 
I  have  shown  that,  assuring  a  certain  ratio  of  increase 
in  our  production  of  coal  when  the  supply  may  be  expected 
to  fail,  and  while  there  is  no  fear  of  an  immediate  exhaus 
tion,  it  is  also  true  that  our  best  and  cheaply  mined  coal3 
will,  at  the  present  rate  of  drain  upon  them  be  largely 
depleted  by  the  end  of  the  next  century.  We  are  taking  the 
cream  and  leaving  the  skim-milk.  The  users  of  anthracite 
coal .  in  the  East  are  already  feeling  the  effects  of  the 
lessening  supply,  and  we  will  do  well  to  heed  the  warn- 
ings which  bid  us  practice  greater  economy  in  the  mining 
and  utilization  of  our  fuel  supplies. 


Prospecting  for  Oil  and  Gas 


BY   DR.    ERASMUS    HAWORTH,    LAWRENCE,    KANSAS. 

My  theme  is  "Prospecting  for  Oil  and  Gas,"  by  which 
is  meant  going  out  into  new  territory  and  discovering  and 
opening  up  new  oil  and  gas  fields.  If  we  have  advanced  far 
enough  in  gaining  knowledge  of  the  origin  and  hiding  places 
of  these  important  products  of  Nature's  laboratory  to  un- 
derstand the  fundamental  principles  by  which  Nature  was 
governed  in  their  compounding,  then  we  ought  to  be  able 
to  carry  such  prospecting  beyond  a  mere  wild  search  and 
accidental  discovery  and  we  should  have  our  actions  based 
upon  some  fundamental  working  hypotheses. 

Prospecting  for  any  mineral  substance  intelligently 
must  presuppose  at  least  some  knowledge  of  its  usual  oceur- 
ence  and  its  usual  association  with  other  materials;  at  least 
some  knowledge  of  its  origin  and  the  natural  conditions 
governing  its  existence.  If  this  is  not  correct,  then  all  sci- 
ence and  learning  are  mockery  in  this  particular  and  the 
"Open  Sesame"  of  the  Ancient  with  his  wand  remains  the 
only  guide.  Certainly  with  our  boasted  knowledge  and 
learning  of  the  twentieth  century  we  will  not  admit  this. 
And  yet  our  knowledge  of  fundamentals  is  so  limited,  and 
minerals  and  ores  and  precious  gems  have  been  so  successful 
in  choosing  their  hiding  places  that  thus  far  in  our  history, 
it  must  be  confessed,  many  of  the  most  valuable  discoveries 
have  been  made  by  accident. 

There  seems  to  be  a  certain  association  of  minerals  and 
of  mineral  materials  which  results  in  our  considering  the 
occurrence  of  certain  things  as  signs  of  something  else.  We 
have,  for  example,  "coal  blossom,"  the  expression  meaning 
that  something  discovered  indicates  the  presence  of  coal,  an 
idea  gained  by  experience  that  this  "something"  is  asso- 
ciated with  coal,  and  having  found  the  first,  proper  search 
will  reveal  the  other.  Likewise,  we  have  "mineral  blossom" 
for  gold,  for  silver,  for  lead,  for  copper,  and  for  every  other 
material  usually  mined.  Then  again,  we  have  a  certain 
knowledge  of  geographic  distribution  gained  by  centuries 
of  experience.  Such  experience  will  prevent  our  searching 
for  gold  or  silver  or  copper  or  other  metalliferous  deposits 
on  the  broad  plains  and  fertile  fields  of  the  great  Mississippi 
Valley  region  excepting  in  a  few  localities.  But  after  a 
fashion  this  is  begging  the  question,  for  we  should  know 


248  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

more  fundamentally  why  the  areas  named  do  not  contain 
the  ores  mentioned. 

It  is  my  firm  belief  that  when  we  have  sufficiently  as- 
sembled all  knowledge  of  association  of  materials,  we  will 
be  able  to  place  prospecting  on  a  firm  and  scientific  basis. 
Already  we  do  not  seek  for  coal  in  granite  rocks.  And  why  ? 
Because  we  have  never  yet  found  the  two  associated.  We 
understand  the  processes  of  Nature  forming  granite  are  in 
a  measure  antagonistic  to  the  processes  forming  coal,  and, 
therefore,  they  could  not  be  associated.  In  our  search  for 
the  metals,  we  go  to  mountainous  districts,  or  to  regions 
where  natural  forces  have  greatly  disturbed  the  outer  part 
of  the  earth,  making  many  fractures  and  fissures  in  which 
valuable  deposits  could  be  placed;  and  we  avoid  areas  where 
no  disturbances  of  Nature  have  occurred  and  where  the 
rocks  are  soft  and  friable  so  that  fissures  and  openings 
could  not  remain  in  existence,  even  were  they  once  formed. 
This  custom  is  so  well  established  that  we  follow  it  almost 
unconsciously  and  possibly  without  asking  or  answering 
the  question  why.  We  have  the  experience  of  the  entire 
-human  race  for  many  thousands  of  years  to  support  us  in 
such  actions, 

Let  us  occupy  a  few  moments  in  looking  over  occur- 
rences and  associations  of  oil  and  gas  in  an  effort  to  learn 
whether  or  not  we  may  be  equally  Avise  in  searching  for 
these  materials. 

The  first  great  general  conclusion  based  upon  experi- 
ence and  observation  is  that  oil  and  gas  almost  always  are 
found  in  a  porous  rock  rather  than  in  genuine  fissure  veins. 
Sandstone  is  the  most  uniformly  porous  rock  known,  and 
almost  all  the  oil  and  gas  knowrn  to  man  have  been  found, 
in  sandstone.  Apparently,  however,  the  reason  for  this  is 
not  because  the  sandstone  is  sandstone  as  such,  but  simply 
because  it  is  porous  and  open.  Throughout  the  great  oil 
fields  and  gas  fields  of  Western  Ohio  and  Indiana  oil  and 
gas  exist  in  a  limestone  which,  by  one  of  Nature's  myste- 
rious processes,  has  been  made  broadly  porous,  imitating 
in  this  respect  an  ordinary  sandstone.  In  portions  of  Cali- 
fornia oil  occurs  in  a  metamorphosed  shale  which  has  been 
rendered  hard  and  porous  by  metamorphic  processes.  It 
would  seem,  therefore,  that  the  important  fact  here  is  that 
sandstone  is  porous  and  forms  a  natural  receptacle  or  store- 
room for  the  oil  and  gas,  rather  than  a  laboratory  in  which 
they  are  compounded. 

Another  great  fact  of  observation  is  that  in  every  oil 
field  thus  far  developed,  a  bed  of -fine-grained,  compact  shale 


PROSPECTING  FOR  OIL  AND  GAS  240 

or  clay  overlies  the  porous  stone  or  receptacle,  which  serves 
as  a  blanket  or  covering  to  hold  the  materials  in  and  keep 
them  from  escaping.  This  covering,  or  blanket,  varies 
greatly  in  thickness  in  different  places,  but  apparently  is 
everywhere  present.  It  would  seem  that  it  is  an  essential 
association. 

The  two  observations  just  named  are  fundamental  in 
importance.  They  prevent  our  hope  of  finding  oil  or  gas 
in  a  sandstone  immediately  at  the  surface,  and  equally  pre- 
vent our  prospecting  in  regions  where  we  know  no  porous 
rock  exists.  We  would  laugh  at  the  man  who  would  begin 
drilling  in  solid  granite  in  a  search  for  oil.  It  becomes  de- 
sirable, therefore,  to  learn  all  we  can  regarding  the  way  na- 
ture prepared  these  underground  receptacles — the  sand- 
stoned  and  the  porous  limestones.  Many  inexplicable  con- 
ditions are  observed  in  oil  fields,  inexplicable  until  we  study 
Nature's  processes  in  making  sandstone. 

I  know  an  instance,  for  example,  where  a  line  of  good 
oil  wells  had  been  drilled  nearly  a  mile  in  length.  Later, 
a  well  was  put  down  between  two  of  the  old  wells,  which 
were  600  feet  apart,  and  this  last  well  found  no  oil,  much 
to  the  surprise  of  everyone  who  knew  about  it.  But  upon 
investigation  it  was  learned  that  the  last  well  found  no 
sandstone  where  the  sandstone  was  expected.  The  explana- 
tion clearly  is  that,  along  the  old  sea  beach  on  which  the 
oil-bearing  sandstone  was  formed  elsewhere,  a  mud-bank, 
due  to  the  particular  combination  of  beach  line  and  river 
mouth,  had  been  formed,  and  the  dry  well  penetrated  a 
place  where  eddies  deposited  mud,  wrhile  sandbeds  were 
forming  on  either  side. 

Oil  fields  in  general  have  been  discovered  by  pros- 
pectors attracted  by  surface  indications.  Usually  leaks  or 
springs  bring  oil  to  the  surface  and  prospectors  have  placed 
their  drills  nearby.  We  owe  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  to 
such  prospectors  and,  in  fairness,  it  should  be  stated  that 
to  them  belongs  nearly  all  the  credit  of  having  discovered 
every  important  oil  field  thus  far  developed  in  America.  It 
was  the  accidental  discovery  of  oil  in  boring  for  salt  brine 
in  many  places  throughout  the  Appalachian  region  which 
prompted  the  supporters  of  Colonel  Drake  to  drill  his  fa- 
mous well  in  Pennsylvania.  It  was  the  accidental  discov- 
ery of  escaping  gas  and  oil  in  many  places  which  led  tin- 
prospector  to  make  discoveries  resulting  in  the  development 
of  many  other  fields.  According  to  a  personal  letter  re- 
ceived from  Dr.  G.  W.  Brown,  now  of  Illinois,  it  was  the 
discovery  by  him  of  asphalt  in  Miami  county,  Kansas,  which 


250  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

led  to  the  drilling  of  the  first  well  near  Paoli,  which  must 
be  reckoned  as  the  starting  point  of  development  in  the 
great  Mid-Continental  field. 

And  yet,  in  the  aggregate,  I  venture  to  state  that  seaps 
and  springs  and  escaping  gas  have  led  to  a  larger  number 
of  failures  than  successes.  Such  springs  clearly  show  that 
oil  and  gas  exist  in  a  given  territory,  but  they  fail  to  show 
details  of  where  to  drill  in  order  to  get  the  good  well. 
Nearly  forty  years  ago,  springs  were  found  on  a  mountain 
side  in  California,  but  the  wells  drilled  as  a  result  of  the 
discovery  in  general  were  total  failures.  The  reason  was 
that  the  prospector  neglected  to  study  his  territory  care- 
fully and  to  learn  from  what  particular  formations  the 
seaps  were  derived.  Unfortunately,  the  drill  was  placed 
so  that  it  went  directly  away  from  the  source  of  oil  rather 
than  towards  it. 

In  early  days  quantities  of  asphaltum  were  found  in 
Cherokee  county,  Kansas,  east  of  the  Neosho  River,  and 
ever  since  the  discovery,  periodically,  first  one  party  and 
then  another  have  taken  leases  in  that  vicinity  with  the 
hope  that,  by  drilling  deeper,  large  quantities  of  oil  would 
be  obtained.  Here  again  disappointment  has  always  accom- 
panied honest  efforts  simply  because  the  leaks  come  to  the 
surface  at  a  place  far  removed  from  the  bodies  of  oil  and 
the  drill  progresses  in  a  wrong  direction. 

The  Mid-Continental  oil  field,  which  lies  astride  the 
state  boundaries  between  Oklahoma  and  Kansas,  is  nowr  reck- 
oned as  one  of  the  greatest  ever  discovered.  During  the  cal- 
endar year  1907,  it  will  produce  about  40,000,000  barrels  of 
oil,  probably  the  largest  amount  from  any  one  field  in  the 
United  States.  Throughout  this  entire  field,  oil  is  found  in 
sandstone,  not  one  individual  sandstone  bed,  but  in  many. 
The  field  is  much  more  spotted  and  uncertain  than  some 
others.  Operators  long  ago  ceased  being  discouraged  by 
bringing  in  a  dry  well,  or  over-enthusiastic  by  bringing  in 
a  good  one.  The  Mid-Continental  field  has  many  individual 
pools,  each  one  limited  in  its  extent  in  every  direction.  No 
two  of  them  are  exactly  alike  in  conditions  of  thickness  of 
sandstone  or  distance  below  the  surface.  But  they  are  all 
closely  similar  in  that  the  oil  and  gas  occur  in  sandstone 
which  has  a  firm,  compact  layer  of  shale  overlying  it.  It 
is  not  uncommon  for  the  drill  to  pass  through  a  number  of 
different  sandstones,  each  one  of  which  may  be  productive 
of  oil  or  gas. 

In  order  to  portray  a  proper  conception,  let  me  liken 
the  formation  to  a  series  of  shelves  in  a  kitchen  cupboard, 
the  shelves  proper  to  be  composed  of  limestones  and  the  in- 


PROSPECTING  FOR  OIL  AND  GAS  .  251 

tervening  spaces  to  be  filled  with  shale  beds  here  and  there 
carrying  lenticular  masses  of  sandstone.  The  drill,  starting 
at  the  top,  will  pass  through  shelf  after  shelf  of  limestone 
with  shale  and  sandstone  intervening.  These  formations 
vary  greatly  in  thickness,  that  is,  the  shelves  are  unequally 
distant  apart.  In  some  places,  a  half  dozen  or  more  sand- 
stones will  be  passed,  each  one  of  which  is  filled  with  water 
that  must  be  cased  off  in  drilling,  and  a  lower  sandstone 
found  so  full  of  oil  that  more  than  a  thousand  barrels  per 
day  may  be  obtained  from  one  well.  Some  of  the  sand- 
stones are  filled  with  gas  instead  of  oil.  Here  a  gas-bearing 
sandstone  overlies  the  oil  and  there  it  underlies  it.  The 
shale  beds  between  may  be  thick  or  thin,  ten  or  twenty  or 
thirty  feet,  or  a  hundred  feet  or  more.  It  is  not  proper  to 
say  that  the  gas  is  shallower  than  the  oil  or  that  the  oil 
is  shallower  than  the  gas.  Often  we  have  strong  flows  of 
gas  above  oil-bearing  stones,  but  quite  as  frequently  the  ga» 
lies  below  the  oil. 

In  one  very  important  respect  the  Mid-Continental  field 
differs  strongly  from  any  and  all  oil  fields  farther  east.  Here 
there  seems  to  be  almost  a  total  lack  of  important  structural 
relations.  In  the  Appalachian  region,  we  have  great  broad 
anticlinal  ridges  and  synclinal  troughs  which,  in  a  measure, 
control  the  location  of  oil  and  gas.  An  anticlinal  ridge  is 
simply  a  fold  where  Nature  has  bent  the  rock  strata  up- 
wards. It  seems  that  when  a  gas  body  exists  underground, 
the  gas  is  trying  to  escape  upwards  and  may  be  caught  in 
this  arch,  or  roof,  provided  our  familiar  fine-grained  shale 
bed  constitutes  the  roof.  As  gas  is  lighter  than  oil,  it  will 
lie  on  top  of  the  oil  should  the  two  exist  in  the  same  sand- 
stone, and  as  oil  is  lighter  than  water,  the  oil  will  lie  on 
top  of  the  water,  should  they  exist  in  the  same  sandstone. 
In  regions  where  anticlinal  ridges  exist,  therefore,  one 
should  follow  them  in  search  for  gas,  and  after  the  gas  has 
escaped,  oil  may  be  obtained  from  the  same  wells,  which, 
in  turn,  may  be  followed  by  water  after  the  oil  is  exhausted. 
One  eloquent  writer,  in  describing  the  Appalachian  region, 
said  that  the  anticlinal  ridges  might  be  traced  by  the  torch- 
lights of  the  gas  wells  and  the  synclinal  troughs  lying  be- 
tween were  accurately  outlined  by  the  dark  valleys  where 
no  gas  light  could  be  found. 

Many  have  searched  in  vain  for  well-defined  anticlinal 
ridges  and  synclinal  troughs  in  the  Mid-Continental  area. 
Here  and  there,  locally,  small  and  illy-defined  anticlines 
have  been  discovered.  Usually  they  are  productive  of  gas, 
but  occasionally  they  overlie  mud-banks  along  the  beaches 
of  the  ancient  seas  and,  therefore,  the  necessary  porous 


252  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

sandstone  does  not  exist.  The  absence  of  this  important 
structural  relation,  which  may  be  determined  by  surface 
conditions,  makes  prospecting  in  the  Mid-Continental  field 
correspondingly  more  hazardous.  An  extended  study  of  the 
records  of  hundreds  of  deep  wells  reveals  another  important 
great  general  fact.  The  individual  sandstone  beds  in  the 
Mid-Continental  field  have  a  lesser  horizontal  extension 
than  those  of  a  number  of  other  places.  This  is  the  imme- 
diate reason  for  the  existence  of  so  many  pools. 

The  old  lola  gas  field,  for  example,  had  comparatively 
definite  outlines,  or  perifera,  uneven  in  direction,  with  an 
area  eight  or  nine  miles  in  greatest  length  and  from  three 
to  four  miles  in  greatest  width.  Nearby,  but  outside  of  the 
old  field,  other  gas  wells  of  equal  importance  have  been 
found  which  seem  to  be  entirely  separate  and  distinct.  The 
gas  pressure  in  the  two  is  not  the  same  and  the  exhaustion 
of  one  does  not  affect  the  other.  The  reason  evidently  is 
that  in  each  case  a  lenticular  mass  of  sandstone  contained 
the  gas  and  that  away  back  at  the  time  each  sandstone  was 
forming,  conditions  along'  the  old  ocean  beaches  were  such 
that  each  sandstone  area  was  surrounded  by  mud  deposits 
which  provided  no  openings  or  pores  to  serve  as  a  sieve  in 
later  times. 

A  careful  study  of  the  geology  of  this  region  shows  that 
the  trend  of  the  old  beach  lies  in  a  general  way  nearly 
north  and  south.  This  is  certainly  the  explanation  for  the 
long  drawn-out,  shoe-string-like  shape  of  the  Mid-Conti 
nental  productive  field.  Examine  a  map  of  Kansas  and  Ok- 
lahoma on  which  is  marked  the  productive  area  and  it  will 
be  found  to  consist  of  a  long,  narrow  strip  reaching  from 
near  Kansas  City,  a  little  west  of  south,  by  way  of  lola,  In- 
dependence, Bartlesville  and  Tulsa,  on  southward  to  be- 
yond the  Glenn  Pool,  a  distance  of  nearly  300  miles.  In 
transverse  direction,  it  is  seldom  to  find  an  extent  of  more 
than  ten  per  cent,  of  this  measurement,  although  here  and 
there  it  may  be  considerably  increased.  But  throughout 
this  great  distance  north  and  south,  it  is  only  occasionally 
that  nature  has  been  liberal  in  supplying  oil  and  gas.  This 
local  area  has  it  in  great  abundance  and  that  area  has  non 
and  our  ignorance  of  Nature's  processes  is  so  great  that  tin 
wisest  cannot  explain  why. 

Prospecting  for  oil  and  gas  in  the  Mid-Continental  field, 
therefore,  is  exceedingly  uncertain  in  detail,  but  compara- 
tively certain  and  sure  in  a  broad  general  way.  It  is  de- 
tail, however,  which  makes  or  breaks  the  individual  pros- 
pector. If  a  company  sufficiently  strong  could  be  organized 
to  drill  a  hundred  or  a  thousand  wells,  regardless  of  sue- 


PROSPECTING  FOR  OIL  AND  GAS  253 

cess  or  failure,  it  is  practically  sure  success  would  meet 
their  efforts.  But  the  individual,  or  the  small  company 
that  can  drill  only  a  few  wells  unless  success  is  obtained  at 
first,  is  likely  to  meet  failure  first  and  go  to  the  wall,  only 
to  learn  that  his  follower  is  successful  with  his  first  well. 

This  brings  me  to  a  most:  important  point,  one  hinted 
at  earlier,  namely:  What  is  the  origin  of  oil  and  gas?  I  be- 
lieve that  if  we  knew  the  origin  of  oil  and  gas,  we  would 
know  better  where  to  prospect  for  it.  If  we  could  penetrate 
the  mysteries  of  Nature  sufficiently  to  understand  her  man- 
ufacturing methods  and  could  learn  where  her  factories  are 
located,  we  would  know  more  about  where  to  search  for  her 
store-houses.  At  present,  there  are  two  main  and  conflict- 
ing theories  regarding  the  origin  of  oil  and  gas.  One  is 
held  in  a  tentative  way  by  nearly  all  the  working  geologists 
who  are  familiar  with  field  conditions  in  oil  and  gas  re- 
gions. The  other  is  held  principally  by  chemists. 

The  first  theory  assumes  that  oil  and  gas  represent 
products  of  decay  of  organic  matter  which  was  imbedded  in 
rock  masses  at  the  time  they  were  formed.  It  supposes  that 
during  the  formation  of  shale  beds  and  limestones  a  vary- 
ing amount  of  organic  matter  was  included  in  the  rock 
masses.  Such  organic  matter,  it  is  supposed,  being  shut  out 
from  the  oxygen  of  the  air,  passed  through  various  stages 
of  partial  decomposition  similar  to  the  way  organic  matter 
decomposes  at  the  surface  of  the  earth,  excepting  that  it 
was  not  oxidized.  This  w^ould  yield  a  complex  series  of 
products,  gas,  light  oils,  medium  oils,  and  heavy  oils,  such 
that  their  varying  gravities  would  arrange  them,  as  far  as 
possible,  with  the  lighter  above  the  heavier.  As  all  of  them 
are  lighter  than  water,  and  as  ground -water  is  almost  every- 
where present  and  is  continuously  being  augmented  by  rain- 
fall, the  tendency  would  be  for  the  ground  water  to  drive 
them  upwards,  ever  upwards  and  out  at  the  surface,  pro- 
ducing the  various  leaks,  seaps  and  springs.  Here  and  there 
where  conditions  were  most  favorable,  the  porous  rock- 
sandstone,  limestone,  or  hardened  shale — occasionally 
would  be  met  where  the  oil  or  gas  might  find  a  resting  place, 
held  in  place  by  an  overlying,  impervious  shale  bed.  The 
pressure  under  which  a  body  wrould  exist  might  be  depend- 
ent on  the  distance  from  the  surface,  which  is  the  same  as 
the  pressure  of  the  water  holding  it  in  place,  or  it  might  in 
rare  cases  be  increased  by  water  at  great  depths  crowding 
the  oil  and  gas  out  of  great  depths  and  driving  them  to- 
wards the  surface. 

This  explanation  in  general  is  fairly  satisfactory,  but 
the  great  trouble  is,  we  cannot  be  real  sure  that  it  is  cor- 


254  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

iect.  According  to  it,  we  would  expect  to  find  oil  and  gas 
close  to  where  they  are  manufactured.  Therefore'  we  would 
search  for  them  in  porous  rock  masses  surrounded  by  black 
bituminous  shale  or  by  other  rocks  wrhich  could  have  pro- 
duced them  by  decomposition  of  contained  organic  matter, 
cither  vegetable  or  animal,, or  both. 

The  old  idea  that  oil  was  produced  from  beds  of  coal 
clings  to  many  and  is  the  same  as  that  just  expressed,  ex- 
cepting that  it  is  more  contracted  and  probably  correspond 
ingly  less  likely  to  be  correct.  Oil  and  gas  may  have  beei 
produced  from  coal,  but  if  so,  it  must  necessarily  be  true 
that  they  have  been  produced  in  much  larger  quantities  by 
the  much  greater  aggregate  of  organic  matter  disseminated 
throughout  the  great  masses  of  stratified  rock  in  such  a  way 
that  it  would  not  ordinarily  be  called  coal.  Every  black 
shale,  every  bituminous  sandstone,  every  limestone,  cer- 
tainly, has  contained  more  or  less  organic  matter  and,  to 
those  who  hold  other  views  regarding  the  origin  of  oil  and 
gas,  it  is  difficult  to  explain  what  has  become  of  the  prod- 
ucts of  decay, of  this  organic  matter. 

When  I  first  began  studying  this  subject,  I  was  puzzled 
to  know  how  sufficient  organic  matter  could  have  been  im- 
bedded in  rock  masses  to  produce  the  vast  quantity  of  oil 
and  gas  already  discovered.  Today  I  am  puzzled  to  explain 
what  has  become  of  the  vast  quantity  of  organic  matter  that 
we  know. was  imbedded  in  all  stratified  rocks.  The  mat- 
ter of  quantity,  therefore,  need  give  no  concern.  Not  a  drop 
of  water  enters  the  ocean  from  the  dry  land  without  taking 
at  least  a  trace  of  organic  matter  with  it.  Throughout  all 
geologic  time,  vegetation  has  covered  the  dry  land  areas. 
Each  spring  it  has  budded,  and  bloomed  and  matured  the 
ripened  fruit;  each  autumn  the  fruit  and  the  grass  and  the 
leaves  have  fallen  to  the  ground  only  to  be  swept  down  to 
the  ocean  in  great  measure  by  flowing  waters  and  to  be  im- 
bedded in  the  silt  and  mud  and  the  forming  sandstones  and 
limestones  and  thus  shut  out  from  the  atmosphere  so  that 
complete  oxidation  was  impossible.  What  has  become  of 
all  this  vast  amount  of  organic  matter?  To  those  who  be- 
lieve in  the  origin  of  gas  and  oil  as  above  outlined,  the  an- 
swer is  that  a  portion  of  it  has  been  changed  over  into  gas 
and  oil  and  is  now  lurking  here  and  there  in  the  stratified 
rocks  and  is  escaping  in  seaps  and  springs  in  countless 
myriads  of  places,  but  in  tops  of  anticlinal  ridges  and  sand- 
stone beds  and  porous  limestones  overlaid  by  impervious 
shales  it  is  awaiting  the  drill  of  the  prospector  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  escape  to  the  surface. 


PROSPECTING  FOR  OIL  AND  GAS  255 

Another  view  of  the  origin  of  oil  and  gas  has  been  ad- 
vocated for  many  years  which  may  be  called  the  chemical 
theory.  This  chemical  theory  is  based  upon  well-known 
chemical  properties  of  matter.  It  assumes  that  at  one  time 
at  least  a  portion  of  the  matter  of  the  earth  was  in  a  molten 
condition  and  that  while  in  that  condition,  carbon  united 
with  different  metals  forming  carbides  similar  to  that 
known  to  exist  in  ordinary  cast  iron.  Gradually,  through- 
out geologic  time,  water  has  come  in  contact  with  these  me- 
tallic carbides  and  has  brought  about  a  decomposition  of 
the  carbides,  producing  oxides  of  the  metals  and  hydro- 
carbons. In  our  chemical  laboratories  such  changes  can 
be  brought  about  so  that  there  need  be  nothing  surprising  if 
oil  and  gas  should  be  produced  in  this  manner. 

Suppose  that  at  a  proper  distance  beneath  the  surface 
where  the  temperature  is  considerably  above  surface  tem- 
peratures, percolating  water  should  find  carbides  of  iron 
and  other  metals.  The  reactions  above  named  probably 
would  occur  and  a  complex  series  of  hydro-carbons  would 
be  produced  which,  under  the  influence  of  water  pressure, 
would  migrate  towards  the  surface  along  whatever  chan- 
nels they  might  be  able  to  find,  would  be  filtered  or  strained 
through  clays  and  stones  of  various  degrees  of  porosity, 
and  would  ultimately  be  found  escaping  in  seaps  or  springs, 
or  caught  in  pools  in  much  the  same  way  as  though  pro- 
duced by  decomposition  of  organic  matter,  as  already  ex- 
plained. 

This  chemical  theory  of  the  origin  of  oil  and  gas,  ap- 
parently is  gaining  favor  of  late.  It  is  an  all-important 
question.  If,  by  some  good  fortune,  we  can  decide  which 
theory  is  correct,  or  possibly  could  find  that  still  a  new  and 
unheard  of  explanation  is  correct,  then  it  seems  we  would 
be  in  a  position  to  formulate  rules  to  govern  our  actions  in 
prospecting,  rules  which  would  lead  to  ultimate  success. 
But  so  long  as  there  is  a  doubt  as  to  how  oil  and  gas  have 
been  produced  and  where  on  the  earth  or  in  the  earth  Na- 
ture's factories  have  been  located,  or  are  located,  provided 
they  are  still  in  operation,  just  that  long  it  will  be  impossi- 
ble for  man  to  entirely  satisfactorily  establish  working  hy- 
potheses to  guide  his  actions.  And  so  long  .as  this  doubt 
exists,  surely  we  must  proceed  in  our  prospecting  in  a 
measure  without  being  governed  by  that  high  degree  of  in- 
telligence for  which  all  of  us  are  longing  and  striving. 


The  Deflocculation  of  Non-Metallic  Amorphous  Bodies 


BY    EDWARD    GOODRICH    ACHESON,    NIAGARA    PALLS,    N.    Y. 

In  the  year  1901,  I  was  engaged  in  a  series  of  experi- 
ments having  as  their  object  the  production  of  crucibles 
from  artificial  graphite.  In  this  work  I  was  led  into  a  study 
of  clays.  What  1  learned  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows: 

1st.  The  American  manufacturers  of  graphite  cruci- 
bles imported  from  Germany  the  clay  used  by  them  as  a 
binder  of  the  graphite  entering  into  the  crucibles. 

2nd.  The  German  clays  are  much  more  plastic  and 
have  a  greater  tensile  strength  than  American  clays  of  very 
similar  chemical  composition. 

3rd.  Residual  clays — those  found  at  or  near  the  point 
at  which  the  parent  feldspathic  rock  was  decomposed — are 
not  in  any  sense  as  plastic  or  strong  as  the  same  clays  are 
when  found  as  sedimentary  clays  at  a  distance  from  their 
place  of  origin. 

4th.  Chemical  analysis  failed  to  account  for  those 
decided  differences. 

I  reasoned  that  the  greater  plasticity  and  tensile 
strength  were  developed  during  the  period  of  transportation 
from  the  place  of  their  formation  to  their  final  bed,  and  I 
thought  it  might  be  due  to  the  presence  of  extracts  from 
vegetation,  the  washings  from  the  forests  being  in  the 
waters  which  carried  them. 

I  made  several  experiments  on  clay  with  extracts  of 
plants,  tannin  being  one  of  them,  and  I  found  a  moderately 
plastic  weak  clay,  when  treated  with  a  dilute  solution  of 
tannic  acid  or  extract  of  straw,  was  increased  in  plasticity, 
made  stronger, — in  some  cases  as  much  as  three  hundred 
per  cent., — required  but  sixty  per  cent,  as  much  water  to 
produce  a  given  degree  of  fluidity,  was  caused  to  remain  sus- 
pended in  water  and  made  so  fine  that  it  would  pass  through 
a  filter  paper.  Being  acquainted  with  the  record  of  how 
the  Egyptians  had  the  Children  of  Israel  use  straw  in  mak- 
ing bricks,  anc\  how  they  substituted  stubble  for  straw,  and 
believing  it  was  not  used  for  any  benefits  derivable  from 
the  fibres  but  for  the  extract,  I  called  clay  so  treated 
"Egyptianized  Clay." 

Having  in  1906  discovered  a  process  of  producing  a  fine, 
pure,  unctuous  graphite,  I  undertook  to  work  out  the  details 
of  its  application  as  a  lubricant.  In  the  dry  form,  or  mixed 
with  grease,  it  was  easy  to  handle,  but  I  wished  it  to  enter 


DEFLOCCULATION  OF  NON-METALLIC  AMORPHOUS  BODIES  257 

the  entire  field  of  lubrication  as  occupied  by  oil.  In  my  first 
efforts  to  suspend  it  in  oil,  I  met  the  same  troubles  encoun- 
tered by  my  predecessors  in  this  line  of  work, — it  would 
quickly  settled  out  of  the  oil.  It  obeyed  the  same  laws  cov- 
ering the  natural  product. 

So  things  stood  until  the  latter  part  of  1906,  when 
the  thought  occurred  to  me  that  tannin  might  have  the 
same  effect  on  graphite  that  it  did  on  clay.  I  tried  it  with 
satisfactory  results,  the  effect  being  obtainable  with  the 
natural  graphites  as  found  in  the  Ticonderoga  and  Ceylon 
varieties,  and  with  the  artificial  product  as  found  in  Ache- 
son-graphite.  It  was  more  essential  and  cheaply  produced 
when  the  soft,  unctuous  variety  of  my  graphite  was  used, 
this  kind  being  composed  of  pseudo-morphs  of  carbide  crys- 
tals, which  had  been  decomposed  in  the  electric  furnace,  the 
resultant  graphite  being  very  loose,  porous  and  readily  dis- 


II  ,1 


integrated  and  deflocculated.  The  effect  was  produced  by 
treating  the  graphite  in  the  disintegrated  form  with  a  water 
solution  of  tannin,  the  amount  of  tannin  being  from  three 
to  six  per  cent,  by  weight  of  the  graphite  treated.  I  found 
that  while  the  effect  may  be  produced  in  a  very  satisfactory 
way  with  distilled  water,  the  waters  as  found  in  rivers,  deep 
wells,  etc.,  are  improved  by  the  addition  of  a  trace  of  am- 
monia. The  presence  of  carbon  dioxide  in  the  water  will 
prevent  deflocculation. 

The  accompanying  Figures  1  and  2  show  the  effect  of 
tannin  in  suspending  graphite.  Figure  1  is  that  of  two 
test  tubes,  one  containing  water,  a  drop  of  ammonia  and 
disintegrated  Acheson-graphite;  the  other  tube  containing 
a  similar  amount  of  water,  ammonia  and  graphite,  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  tannic  acid.  The  photograph  was  taken 
immediately  after  the  tubes  were  thoroughly  shaken.  Fig- 
ure 2  shows  the  same  tubes  and  contents,  four  minutes  hav- 


258  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

ing  elapsed  after  being  shaken,  they  not  having  been  dis- 
turbed during  that  interval.  These  tubes  furnish  a  very 
clear  demonstration  of  the  quick  settling  of  graphite  in 
plain  water  and  the  remarkable  effect  of  the  presence  of 
tannin.  All  of  the  graphite  put  into  the  tube  with  the  tan- 
nin did  not  remain  suspended.  In  fact,  in  this  case  as  il- 
lustrated, very  nearly  all  of  it  had  settled,  only  sufficient  re- 
maining in  the  water  to  give  it  its  blackness.  To  cause  a 
complete  Suspension  of  all  the  graphite  necessitates  pro- 
longed mastication  in  the  form  of  a  paste  with  the  water 
and  tannin,  and  I  find  that  after  this  mastication  has  been 
carried  out  that  the  effect  is  very  much  improved  by  diluting 
the  mass  with  considerable  water,  and  allowing  it  to  re- 
main some  weeks  with  occasional  stirring. 

I  have  operated  a  masticator  continuously  for  one 
month,  without  interruption,  the  machine  having  been 
charged  with  graphite  and  tannic  acid  made  to  a  paste  with 
water,  and  I  afterwards  found  the  graphite  would  remain 
suspended  apparently  for  all  time,  not  having  shown  any 
disposition  to  settle  for  a  period  of  two  or  three  months.  In 
this  condition  I  believe  it  is  what  would  be  called,  by  the 
chemists,  "colloidal,"  but  this  word  to  me  is  wanting  in 
significance  and  seems  rather  to  be  solely  the  name  of  a 
state  or  condition,  and  conveys  no  conception  %of  the  real 
condition  of  the  body  that  is  in  suspension.  I  have  adopted 
the  name  "deflocculated."  This  is  a  new  word  that  is  not 
to  be  found  in  the  dictionary.  Flocculation,  however,,  is, 
and  in  the  Century  Dictionary  I  find  it  defined,  as  applied 
to  chemistry  and  physics,  as  follows:  "The  union  of  small 
particles  into  granular  aggregates  or  compound  particles  of 
larger  size."  If  to  this  word  we  add  the  prefix  "de,"  we 
have  a  word  that  would  have  the  meaning  of  the  undoing 
or  resolving  of  the  compound  particles  into  their  final  molec- 
ular condition.  I  believe  the  body  to  be  actually  reduced 
to  the  molecular  form,  as  I  cannot  conceive  that  the  process 
of  subdivision  would  cease  at  any  definite  point  previous  to 
the  final  subdivision  to  that  form.  When  the  subdivision 
has  been  carried  to  this  molecular  state,  the  body  is  ap- 
parently entirely  free  from  the  law  of  gravitation  as  we 
know  it  as  applied  to  larger  masses,  and  we  have  here 
graphite,  which  weighs  approximately  two  and  one-fourth 
times  that  of  the  water  in  which  it  is  suspended,  remaining 
indefinitely  in  suspension  without  any  apparent  disposition 
to  seek  a  lower  level.  Is  it  not  possible  that  to  be  colloidal 
is  to  be  molecular,  and  to  be  molecular  is  to  be  free  from  the 
law  of  gravitation?  We  know  that  colloidal  gold,  weighing 
more  than  twenty  times  that  of  the  water  in  which  it  is  sus- 


DBFLOCCULATION  OF  NON-METALLIC  AMORPHOUS  BODIES  259 

pended,  will  remain  apparently  indifferent  to  gravitation. 
It  is  customary  to  speak  of  the  diffusion  of  gases;  thus  car- 
bonic acid  gas,  although  much  heavier  than  air,  will  become 
diffused  through  the  air,  but  if  a  volume  of  this  gas  be 
collected  in  a  balloon,  you  will  find  that  as  a  mass  it  is  sub- 
ject to  the  law  of  gravitation  and  will  immediately  seek  a 
lower  level. 

I  have  found  that  this  effect  is  obtainable  not  only  with 
tannic  acid  and  extract  of  straw,  but  I  have  also  produced 
it  with  catechu  and  the  extracts  of  sumac,  oak  bark,  spruce 
bark,  and  tea  leaves.  It  may  be  remarked  that  all  these  sub- 
stances, with  the  one  exception  of  straw,  contain  tannic 
acid,  and  were  it  not  that  I  have  obtained  the  effect  with 
extract  of  straw,  which  is  free  from  tannin,  it  might  be 
assumed  that  tannin  itself  was  the  essential  agent.  It  is 
quite  possible  that  this  list  may  be  largely  extended.  I  have 
produced  the  effect  not  only  on  clay  and  on  graphite,  but 
also  on  amorphous  silica,  alumina,  lampblack,  and  my  new 
product — Siloxicon,  and  it  would  seem  that  this  list  might  be 
very  much  extended  also.  Indeed,  it  would  seem  that  we 
might  take  it  as  an  established  law  applying  to  all  non- 
metallic  amorphous  bodies.  When  it  be  remembered  how 
broadly  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth  are  these  amor- 
phous inorganic  bodies  and  these  active  organic  agents,  it 
is  difficult  to  grasp  to  what  extent  this  effect  may  be  utilized 
in  the  economy  of  Nature — the  effect  of  the  organic  acting 
upon  the  inorganic.  Unquestionably  it  is  this  action  that 
prepares  the  clay  for  the  potters'  use.  May  it  not  play  an 
important  part  in  the  process  of  the  preparation  of  plant 
food? 

I  have  continually  referred  to  the  act  of  deflocculation 
as  an  "effect. "  I  know  of  no  law,  either  chemical  or  physi- 
cal, that  will  account  for  the  results  produced,  and  we  are 
therefore  compelled  to  define  it  as  an  effect — a  result  pro- 
duced by  a  cause. 

Figures  3  and  4  illustrate  an  experiment  with  water 
containing  0.2  of  one  per  cent,  graphite.  Figure  3  shows  a 
glass  funnel  containing  a  fine  filter  paper  resting  in  a  test 
tube.  In  the  tube  below  the  funnel  is  a  black  liquid,  which 
has  passed  through  the  filter  paper.  This  black  liquid  is 
water  containing  0.2  of  one  per  cent,  deflocculated  Acheson- 
graphite.  The-  fact  of  its  having  passed  through  the  filter 
paper  leaves  no  doubt  in  our  minds  of  the  impossibility  of 
separating  the  water  and  graphite  while  in  this  condition 
by  ordinary  filtration.  I  have  found  that  the  addition  of  a 
very  minute  amount  of  hydro  chloric  acid  causes  the  con- 


260  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

tained  graphite  to  flocculate,  i.  e.,  group  its  particles  into 
masses  so  that  it  will  no  longer  pass  through  the  paper. 
Figure  4  shows,  as  in  the  former  case,  the  funnel,  filter 
paper  and  test  tube;  but  now  in  the  lower  part  of  the  tube, 
below  the  filter,  we  find  a  clear  liquid,  this  being  the  water 
in  which  the  deflocculated  graphite  was  formerly  sus- 
pended, the  graphite  now  being  caught  entirely  in  the 
filter  paper  above.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  filter  paper 
in  Figure  3  is  black  on  the  outside,  ,this  having  been  pro- 
duced by  the  deflocculated  graphite  passing  through  the 
paper,  whereas  the  filter  paper,  as  shown  in  Figure  4,  re- 
mains white  on  the  outside,  the  graphite  not  having  passed 
through  its  body. 

This  graphite,  even  after  flocculation,  is  so  fine  in  its 
particles  that  when  dried  en  masse  it  forms  a  nurd  article. 
It  is  self-bonding,  like  a  sun-dried  clod  of  clay. 

I  have  successfully  used  deflocculated  graphite  in  water 
instead  of  oil  in  sight  drop  feed  oilers  and  with  chain  feed 
oilers.  I  have  a  shaft  in  my  laboratory  measuring  2  5-10 
inches  in  diameter,  revolving  at  3,000  revolutions  per  min- 
ute in  a  bearing  ten  inches  long  that  had  no  oil  on  it  for  a 
month,  deflocculated  graphite  and  water  being  the  only 
lubricants  used,  the  feed  being  by  chain,  ancl  it  ran  per- 
fectly. On  the  same  shaft  is  a  similar  bearing  lubricated 
with  oil,  and  this  ran  much  the  warmer  of  the  two. 

A  few  days  after  this  test  was  started  a  pessimistic 
friend  remarked  that  just  plain  simple  water  would  give 
the  same  results,  that  the  presence  of  graphite  was  un- 
necessary. We  are  influenced  by  the  opinions  of  others,  even 
when  we  know  or  think  they  are  wrong.  I  emptied  the  oil 
out  of  the  second  bearing  on  the  shaft  and  substituted  plain 
water.  The  results  during  the  first  twelve  hours  seemed 
to  support  the  contention  of  the  friend.  The  next  day  after 
the  machine  had  stood  motionless  over  night,  things  did  not 
look  so  well  for  the  water;  it  was  a  lame  "second"  on  ac- 
count of  rust,  and  was  hurriedly  removed.  I  think  I  shall 
not  recommend  clear  water  as  a  permanent  lubricant. 

.  Deflocculated  graphite  in  water  possesses  the*  remark- 
able power  of  preventing  rust  or  corrosion  of  iron  or  steel. 
This  characteristic  will  unquestionably  make  it  of  great 
value  for  some  uses,  and  while,  as  yet,  little  has  been  done 
to  explore  the  field  some  work  has  already  been  accom- 
plished in  using  it  as  a  cutting  compound  in  screw  cutting, 
and  I  have  been  advised  by  one  large  manufacturer  that 
the  results  obtained  showed  it  to  be  equal  or  superior  to 
oil  when  the  water  was  carrying  as  little  as  one-half 


DEFLOCCULATION  OF  NON-METALLIC  AMORPHOUS  BODIES  261 

of  one  per  cent,  of  its  weight  in  graphite.  It  will  readily  be 
understood  that  while  preventing  rusting,  the  high  specific 
heat  of  the  water  renders  it  of  great  importance,  permitting 
of  a  high  speed  of  the  machinery,  and  consequently  in- 
creased output.  Another  probable  application  of  defloccu- 
lated  graphite  in  water  will  be  as  lubricant  for  condensing 
engine  cylinders. 

While  as  I  have  stated,  deflocculated  graphite  in  water 
is  an  excellent  lubricant  for  light  work,  it  has  the  disad- 
vantage of  losing  its  water  by  evaporation,  and  I  realize 
that  to  utilize  the  possible  advantages  of  deflocculated- 
graphite  it  would  be  necessary  to  replace  the  water  with  oil ; 
therefore,  I  set  before  me  the  task  of  accomplishing  that  re- 
sult. When  it  is  remembered  that  a  removal  of  the  water  by 
evaporation  previous  to  its  replacement  by  oil  would  cause 
the  contained  graphite  to  assume  the  condition  of  hard, 
flocculated,  self-bonded  mass,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  prob- 
lem was  not  simply  one  of  the  evaporation  of  the  water  and 
suspending  the  resultant  dry  graphite  in  oil.  A  very  great 
deal  of  difficulty  and  many  discouraging  conditions  were 
met  with  in  my  attempt  to  cross  this  apparently  bottomless 
chasm,  and  I  am  pleased  to  say  that  I  eventually  succeeded, 
and  I  have  been  successful  in  suspending  the  deflocculated 
graphite  in  standard  oil  in  a  dehydrated  condition.  The 
graphite  will  remain  suspended  in  the  manner  that  it 
formerly  did  in  the  water,  and  we  now  have  in  this  article 
a  truly  new  lubricating  body. 

A  new  material  having  been  created,  as  this  would  evi- 
dently seem  to  be,  a  new  name  is  necessary,  and  I  have 
added  the  initial  letters  of  Deflocculated  Acheson-graphite 
D-A-G  to  "Oil"  or  "Aqua/7  when  the  deflocculated  graphite 
is  carried  in  oil  or  water  as  the  case  might  be,  and  have 
"Oildag"  and  "Aquadag"  respectively. 

Professor  0.  H.  Benjamin,  formerly  of  the  Case  School 
of  Applied  Science,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  now  Dean  of  the 
Engineering  Schools  of  Purdue  University,  Lafayette,  Indi- 
ana, is  engaged  in  making  extensive  tests  to  determine  the 
value  of  deflocculated  graphite  as  a  lubricant,  and,  while 
these  tests  are  not  as  yet  completed,  he  has  proved  that 
0.5  per  cent,  by  weight  of  this  graphite  in  oil  greatly  reduces 
the  co-efficient  of  friction  and  materially  extends  the  lif< 
of  the  oil  in  which  it  is  suspended  as  a  lubricant.  Figure 
5  shows  some  of  the  results  obtained  in  his  tests  with 
spindle  oil,  and  by  a  study  of  them  we  find  that  comparm;> 
the  initial  co-efficient  of  friction  of  plain  oil  and  oil  contain 
ing  one-half?  of  one  per  cent,  of  graphite^  the  co-efficieni 


262 


PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 


of  friction  of  the  oil  containing  the  graphite  was  but  sixty  - 
live  per  cent,  of  the  plain  oil,  while  after  one  hundred  and 
twenty  minutes,  it  was  but  fifty-five  per  cent.,  the  friction  of 
the  oil  having  increased  fifty-four  per  cent.,  while  with  the 
contained  graphite  it  increased  but  thirty  per  cent.  After 
shutting  off  the  supply  of  the  lubricant  on  the  bearing,  the 
co-efficient  of  friction  of  the  oil  alone  increased  in  thirty 
minutes  125  per  cent,  whereas  the  co-efficient  of  the  oil  with 
one-half  of  one  per  cent,  of  graphite  increased  in  eighty 
minutes  but  fourteen  per  cent.  In  fact,  at  the  end  of  the 


entire  run  of  200  minutes  its  co-efficient  of  friction  was 
less  than  the  initial  friction  of  the  plain  oil. 

Very  extensive  and  careful  tests  of  Oildag  have  also 
been  made  at  the  works  of  the  General  Electric  Company, 
Schenectady,  New  York,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  W. 
L.  R  Emmett,  engineer  of  the  Lighting  Department,  and 
these  tests  have  been  corroborative  of  those  made  by  Prof. 
Benjamin.  They  were,  however,  not  made  to  include  meas- 
urements of  the  co-efficient  of  friction  but  of  the  tempera- 
ture and  the  surface  speed  of  the  shaft  in  the  bearing.  The 
shaft  measured  seven  and  one-half  inches,  in  diameter,  .rest- 
ing in  a  bearing  twenty-one  inches  in  length,  and  the  test 
covered  both  forced  lubrication  and  oil  ring  lubrication. 
Not  a  great  deal  of  advantage  was  shown  in  the  case  of  the 


DEFLOCCULATION  OF  NON-METALLIC  AMORPHOUS  BODIES  263 

forced  feed  lubrication,  the  presence  of  the  graphite  holding 
down  the  temperature  but  a  very  little.  In  the  test  on  the 
oil  ring  feed,  however,  very  pronounced  advantages  were 
fchown  in  favor  of  the  graphite.  The  graphite  content  as 
Used  in  these  tests  was  0.35  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  weight 
of  the  oil.  The  comparison  of  oil  and  oil  and  graphite  with 

0  pressure  of  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  pounds  per  square 
inch  of  projected  area  of  the  bearing  showed  that  with  the 
same  pressure  and  temperature,  a  shaft  can  be  run  from  50 
to  100  per  cent,  faster  with  the  graphite  in  the  oil  than  with 
the  plain  oil. 

The  world  was  shocked  a  short  time  ago  by  the  appear- 
ance in  the  daily  press  of  an  account  of  the  utter  annihila- 

1  ion  of  one  of  the  plants  of  the  DuPont  Powder  Company. 
The  account  informed  the  world  of  the  sacrifice  of  the  lives 
of  a  number  of  its  employes,  the  maiming  and  crippling  of 
very  many  more,  and  of  a  property  destruction  extending 
over  many  square  miles,  and,  further,  that  this  was -caused 
by  the  overheating  of  a  bearing.     I  believe  I  am  quite 
within  the  truth  when  I  state  that  this  frightful  catastro- 
phe might  have  been  entirely  obviated  had  that  bearing 
been  lubricated  with  Oildag.    A  thin  film  of  graphite  be- 
tween two  metallic  surfaces  will  prevent  their  seizing,  cut- 
ting, or  heating  from  friction.     This  fact  can  readily  be 
drawn   from  the  curves  of  Professor  Benjamin's  results 
that  I  have  already  shown  you,  and  from  the  statements  I 
have  given  you  of  the  results  obtained  in  the  works  of  the 
General  Electric  Company,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr. 
W.  L.  R  Emmett. 

I  have  myself  been  making  tests  of  the  efficiency  of  my 
product  as  a  lubricant  for  automobile  gasoline  engine  cylin- 
ders, with  the  result  that  I  have  very  materially  reduced 
the  consumption  of  oil.  A  Packard  No.  30  automobile  that 
I  am  operating  ran  6,000  miles  without  the  necessity  of 
cleaning  the  spar  plugs,  and  what  is  still  more  remarkable, 
without  the  necessity  of  grinding  the  valves.  It  would 
perhaps  be  too  early  to  state  positively  that  the  use  of  Oil- 
dag  in  the  gas  engine  valves  would  eliminate  the  pitting 
of  the  valve  seats,  but  the  results  that  I  have  so  far  ob- 
tained would  rather  indicate  such  a  possibility.  The  sur- 
faces produced  on  the  valve  seats  are  remarkable,  being 
much  finer  than  is  possible  of  attainment  by  any  mechani- 
cal finishing,  the  graphite  being  incorporated  in  the  body 
of  the  metal. 

The  results  that  I  have  obtained  in  lubricating  my  auto- 
mobile have  been  largely  corroborated  by  others.  Thus,  Mr. 


264  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

F.  W.  Haskell,  president  of  the  Carborundum  Company, 
who  operates  a  forty-five  horse-power  Pierce  touring  car, 
has  been  experimenting  with  Oildag  in  cylinder  lubrication, 
and  he  informs  me  that  whereas  his  past  practice,  under  the 
advice  of  the  George  N.  Pierce  company,  has  been  to  in- 
troduce a  charge  of  five  pints  of  cylinder  oil  into  his  crank 
case  for  every  three  hundred  miles,  he  had,  after  introduc- 
ing deflocculated  graphite  in  the  oil  in  an  amount  equal  to 
0.35  of  one  per  cent.,  operated  the  car  continuously  for  six 
hundred  and  thirty  miles,  and  upon  removing  the  remain- 
der of  the  charge,  after  running  that  distance,  he  found 
that  the  quantity  and  quality  was  of  a  kind  that  would  have 
justified  him  in  continuing  for  a  further  unknown  distance. 

Mr.  W.  K  Densmore,  formerly  prominently  associated 
with  the  interests  of  the  Packard  Motor  Car  Company,  and 
now  secretary  of  the  Imperial  Motor  Company — the  local 
representative  in  the  Buffalo  territory  of  the  Packard  com- 
pany— has  found  as  the  results  of  his  experiments  with 
Oildag  in  the  cylinders  that  deflocculated  graphite  to  the 
amount  of  0.35  of  one  per  cent,  reduced  the  amount  of  oil 
necessary  for  perfect  lubrication  to  the  extent  of  one-half. 

While  the  possible  improvements  in  the  fitting  and 
wear  of  the  various  parts  of  engines  and  machinery  in  gen- 
eral is  a  matter  of  great  importance,  unquestionably  the 
greater  value  of  this  new  product  will  be  found  in  its  re- 
duction of  the  oil  consumption  in  lubrication.  We  probably 
have  not  fully  realized  the  great  consumption  of  lubricating 
oils,  but  this  can  be  readily  grasped  when  we  remember  that 
the  transportation  and  manufacturing  interests  of  the 
world  are  conducted  on  or  with  wheels  running  in  bearings 
that  must  be  lubricated.  This  requirement  has  been  met  for 
a  number  of  years  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  it  is 
currently  stated  that  the  major  part  of  their  business  is 
supplying  this  particular  necessity,  and  we  have  but 
recently  been  pretty  well  informed  as  to  the  profits  derived 
from  it.  In  offering  this  new  product  to  the  w^orld,  my  pur- 
pose will  be  to  share  the  resultant  savings,  which  should 
be  a  matter  of  considerable  magnitude,  with  the  public. 
The  tests  that  have  been  made  by  the  experts  I  have  re- 
ferred to,  indicate  that  the  oil  consumption  will  be  reduced 
over  twenty-five  per  cent.  I  hope  to  make  Oildag  the  lubri- 
cant of  the  bearings  of  the  world. 


Will  the  Production  of  Gold  in  the  World  Keep  Pace  with  the  Increasing 
Demands  of  Commerce  and  Trade? 


BY    DR.    WALDEMAB  LINDGREN,     WASHINGTON,    D.    C. 

I  assure  you  that  I  am  not  using  an  empty  phrase  when 
I  say  that  I  approach  this  subject  with  the  greatest  diffi- 
dence. In  fact,  I  feel  a  great  deal  like  a  student  who  has 
been  given  a  problem  containing  five  unknown  quantities, 
and  only  has  data  to  assemble  two  equations.  To  a 
considerable  degree  this  uncertainty  and  this  difficulty 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  within  this  apparently  inno- 
cent question  lies  concealed  another  problem,  a  prob- 
lem of  political  economy,  and  this  involves  questions 
concerning  which  I  might  say  that  no  two  investi- 
gators have  ever  been  able  to  agree.  Now  if  the  question 
had  been  "Will  the  production  of  Coal  or  Iron  keep  pace 
with  the  development  of  our  industries?"  it  would  have 
been  a  good  deal  easier.  Coal  we  need,  and  iron  we  need — 
wre  are  sure  to  need — but  gold — the  political  economists  are 
not  at  all  agreed  as  to  whether  we  need  gold  or  not.  There 
are  a  good  many  mining  gentlemen  who  will  tell  us  that 
gold  is  not  necessary  for  the  increasing  business  transac- 
tions in  the  business  of  the  world.  They  Avill  tell  us  that 
the  gold  production  has  no  connection  whatever  with  the 
progress  of  the  industries.  There  are,  however,  a  number 
of  the  students  of  political  economy  who  hold  a  different 
opinion,  and  I  think  on  the  whole  they  must  be  right,  al- 
though I  am  not  qualified  to  pass  on  the  subject.  They  hold 
that  an  abundant  supply  of  gold  is  absolutely  necessary  un- 
der existing  conditions,  under  the  standard  of  values  which 
the  nations  have  adopted  for  the  successful  development 
of  industries  and  trade,  and  they  hold  that  the  increasing 
production  of  gold  which  Ave  have  experienced  the  last  ten 
to  twenty  years  has  brought  about  a  depreciation  of  gold 
wMch  needs  expression  in  the  increase  in  Avages  and  the  in- 
crease in  the  price  of  commodities. 

I  will  accept  that  vieAv  as  probably  the  correct  one,  but 
the  question  then  further  arises,  at  what  rate  is  the  develop- 
ment in  the  industries  and  trade  supposed  to  progress.  The 
question  is,  of  course,  will  the  production  of  the  gold  of  the 
world  keep  pace  with  increasing  demands  of  commerce  and 
trade?  What  are  those  increasing  demands?  In  other 
words,  at  what  rate  are  we  going?  I  venture  to  say  if  we 


266  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

keep  going  at  the  pace  which  we  were  setting  last  year,  one 
thousand  millions  of  gold  a  year  would  not  be  sufficient, 
but  I  shall  assume  that  it  means  that  the  progress  shall  be 
normal,  gradual  and  healthy. 

Now,  I  said  that  I  approach  the  subject  with  diffidence. 
It  is  not  on  account  of  the  questions  of  political  economy. 
It  is  also  on  account  of  the  fact  that  every  man,  like  myself, 
who  has  tried  to  predict  the  AVO.rkFs  production  of  gold,  has 
failed  signally.  Some  fifteen  years  ago  when  the  production 
of  the  world  was  about  $119.000,000  a  year,  we  were  gener- 
ally pessimists,  and  most  of  those  who  tried  to  predict,  their 
predictions  fell  far  short  of  the  actual  results,  so  that  per- 
haps the  result  is  now  in  1906  we  are  apt  to  be  a  little  too 
optimistic.  We  think  a  flood  of  gold  is  going  to  overwhelm 
us  as  it  did  in  1859  or  1856  when  the  gold  from  California 
and  Australia  began  to  pour  into  the  market. 

The  question,  then,  with  these  preliminary  problems 
eliminated  in  a  way  is,  what  the  recourses  of  the  world  at 
the  present  time  are,  and  what  they  are  likely  to  be  this  year 
and  the  next  year,  and  possibly  hereafter.  We  have  to  con- 
fine ourselves  to  that. 

I  said  that  the  gold  production  of  the  world  in  1890 
amounted  to  $119,000,000.  In  1906  it  amounted  in  round 
numbers  to  $403,000,000.  That  is  quite  a  handsome  sum. 
In  fact,  it  is  so  large  that  it  does  not  present  any  definite 
idea.  It  is  difficult  to  attach  an  idea  of  value  to  such  an 
amount  of  money.  It  is  equivalent  to  600,000  tons  of  gold 
a  year.  Now,  that  again  is  very  well,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
understand  just  exactly  what  it  means.  Perhaps  I  can  give 
a  better  idea  of  the  quantity  of  gold  by  telling  you  what  I 
saw  a  few  years  ago  in  the  Denver  mint.  There  was  a  safe 
about  6x5x7, 1  should  say,  and  it  was  lined  with  gold  bars  on 
three  sides,  two  deep,  and  about  five  feet  high.  It  contained 
$14,000,000  to  $15,000,000  in  gold.  And  incidentally,  I  as- 
sure you,  it  was  a  pretty  sight. 

Now,  the  gold  production  of  the  world  would  amount 
to  thirty  such  safes.  You  can  imagine  to  better  effect  thirty 
such  safes  filled  up  with  those  gold  bars  one  at  the  side  of 
the  other. 

The  first  thing  we  had  better  do  is  perhaps  to  try  to  find 
out  where  this  gold  comes  from.  First  as  to  quality,  as  to 
source  of;  second,  as  to  geographical  location.  According 
to  a  rough  calculation,  I  have  placed  the  amount  of  placet- 
gold  in  the  world  annually  produced,  taking  last  year,  1906, 
for  an  example,  at  $74,000,000.  That  is  placer  gold.  The 
gold  contained  in  copper  and  lead  ores,  not  mined  chiefly 


THE   PRODUCTION    OF   GOLD  267 

but  partly  for  the  gold  they  contained,  would  be  about 
119,000,000.  Silver  bullion  containing  a  very  small  amount 
of  gold  would  contribute  about  $10,000,000  or  $12,000,000. 
The  remainder,  or  $300,000,000,  of  gold  comes  from  siliceous 
quartzose  ores. 

There  is  a  fact  which  we  must  keep  in  mind.  It  is  not 
like  silver.  We  cannot  rely  on  having  a  steady  production 
of  gold  as  a  by-product  from  copper  and  lead  ore.  Silver 
production  is  steady  and  does  not  increase  in  a  startling 
manner.  That  is  because  most  of  it  is  a  clear  by-product. 
The  mining  of  pure  silver  ores  is  comparatively  a  very  small 
amount.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  it  in  the  bed,  of  course,  but 
compared  with  the  whole  it  is  not  of  very  great  importance. 
So  it  is  to  the  siliceous  quartzose  ores  that  we  have  to  look 
for  the  gold  supply. 

Now,  then,  looking  over  the  geographical  distribution 
of  those  $403,000,000  of  gold — I  can  first  mention  a  miscel- 
laneous item,  that  is  about  $30,000,000.  It  comes  from 
South  America,  Central  America,  European  countries,  the 
Orient,  and  a  few  other  scattered  places,  in  all  amounting  to 
$30,000,000,  and  there  is  no  great  reason  for  expecting  much 
of  a  change  in  the  immediate  future  from  those  countries. 
True,  South  America  has  always  been  supposed  to  be  a  po- 
tential source  of  gold.  Very  likely  it  is,  but  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  there  are  any  gold  countries  proper  on  the 
scale  of  California  and  Australia  containing  that  metal,  but 
in  some  way  Mexico  suddenly  has  increased  her  gold  produc- 
tion in  a  short  time,  so  that  we  may  expect  South  America 
shall  sometime  furnish  a  similar  amount.  India  contributes 
now  about  $10,000,000  or  $11,000,000  only  from  one  district 
practically,  and  that  production  is  rather  slightly  decreas- 
ing by  slow  degrees  so  that  there  is  not  much  to  expect 
from  there. 

The  next  item  is  Russia,  and  that  is  an  important  item. 
The  trouble' about  Russia  is  its  gold  production  remains  at 
about  the  same  figure,  and  has  remained  for  th^  last  ten 
years.  It  is  about  $24,000,000.  Russia  contains,  no  doubt, 
vast  amounts  of  placer  gold,  but  political  conditions  make 
it  very  difficult  to  work  there.  This  is  the  consensus  of 
opinion  of  engineers  who  have  been  there  and  examined 
their  resources.  Aside  from  drawbacks  of  climate,  the 
frozen  ground,  etc.,  the  government  does,  not  seem  to  en- 
courage the  industry  at  all.  True  there  are  concessions, 
but  they  are  coupled  with  so  many  embarrassing  terms  that 
they  are  very  difficult  to  comply  with,  so  although  in  fact 
Russia  may  vastly  increase  its  gold  output — very  likely  it 


268  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

will — there  is  nothing  much  to  be  expected  from  that  source 
in  the  immediate  future. 

The  next  country  we  come  to  is  Australia.  Now  that 
is  very  important.  It  produces  about  one-fourth  or  one- 
fifth  of  the  total  gold  production  of  the  world,  and  inci- 
dentally I  call  your  attention  to  the  remarkable  and  close 
analogy  and  similarity  between  Victoria,  Australia  and  Cal- 
ifornia, in  the  quantities  produced;  in  geological  structure, 
form  and  nature  of  deposits  they  are  most  remarkably  simi- 
lar, but  it  was  Western  Australia  which  yielded  the  pro- 
duct that  caused  Australia  as  a  continent  to  become  so 
prominent  of  late  years  in  the  gold  production  of  the  world. 
But  the  picture  is  not  altogether  so  rosy.  The  different 
states  have  shown  a  decided  decrease  in  the  past  years,  in 
Western  Australia  itself,  West  Cambria  especially  so  and 
there  is  no  reason  to  suppose,  unless  remarkable  discoveries 
appear,  that  Australia  will  increase  its  gold  output.  More 
likely  it  will  decrease  it.  Last  year  the  decrease  was  $3,- 
000,000.  It  is  predicted  there  will  be  a  decrease  of  about 
$2,000,000  this  year — perhaps  more.  That  disposes  of  Aus- 
tralia. 

Now  we  come  to  the  more  interesting  feature  perhaps 
to  us — North  America.  While  our  production  in  1906  was 
$124,000,000— quite  a  considerable  sum— about  $14,000,000 
of  that  came  from  Mexico  and  that  country  seems  likely  to 
hold  its  own  for  quite  awhile  yet.  The  production  of  Mex- 
ico comes  from  two  sources;  first,  that  contained  in  the  sil- 
ver bullion,  and  second,  that  contained  in  the  gold  mines  of 
El  Oro  and  a  few  others,  but  nearly  half  the  production  of 
Mexico  hinges  on  the  production  of  the  mines  of  El  Oro. 

Next  comes  the  gold  production  of  Canada.  That  is 
at  present  something  like  $12,000,000,  and  has  shown  a 
decreasing  tendency  due  to  persistent  decrease  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  Klondike.  It  is  true  that  it  seems  likely  that 
within  a  short  time  because  of  the  numerous  quartz  mines, 
which  are  now  being  located  there,  combined  with  dredg- 
ing the  Klondike  will  once  more  regain  its  former  position 
—maybe  not  reach  such  startling  figures,  but  will  no  doubt 
produce  for  many  years  to  come. 

The  United  States  last  year  produced  about  $94,000,000 
and  it  has  increased  about  $6,000,000  or  $7,000,000  or  $8,- 
000,000  for  the  last  three  or  four  years.  What  is  the  pros- 
pect of  gold  production  for  the  present  year?  The  papers 
have  been  predicting  the  $100,000,000  mark  will  be  reached. 
I  doubt  whether  it  will  be  readied  this  year.  There  are 
influences  at  work  and  have  been  at  work  for  the  last  year 


THE    PRODUCTION    OP    GOLD  269 

which  have,  I  fear,  decreased  the  production.  Copper  pro- 
duction has  decreased  in  the  last  few  months,  and  that  will 
decrease  it  some.  The  production  of  the  Black  Hills  has 
decreased  somewhat,  and  in  California  the  production 
would  hardly  offset  the  troubles  they  have  been  having  in 
the  Mariposa  region. 

Alaska  has  had  its  share  of  labor  troubles,  and  on 
Alaska  we  have  relied  to  make  good  this  year  to  reach  the 
|100,000,000  mark.  But  there  is  one  state  worth  mention- 
ing, among  the  gold-producing  states,  Nevada.  Nevada 
undoubtedly  will  increase  its  production  this  year — just 
how  much  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  say.  You  all  knowT 
and  the  papers  claim,  and  no  doubt  a  large  part  of  it  is  true 
—I  think  it  will  produce  enough  to  offset  losses  in  other 
states  which  will  make  our  probable  gold  production  this 
year  about  the  same  as  last.  For  the  next  few  years  we 
will  be  able  to  maintain  a  similar  production  unless  as  I  say, 
the  troubles  which  are  now  feared,  are  coming  to  the  front. 

There  is  one  country  we  have  not  touched  upon  yet  and 
that  is  Africa,  The  real  crux  of  the  gold  situation  depends 
on  Africa.  Africa  produces  about  $134,000,000  gold  at  the 
present  time.  A  part  of  it  is  from  Rhodesia,  and  a  small 
part  from  the  Gold  Coast  Colony  and  Ashante  on  the  Wes- 
tern Coast  of  Africa,  but  both  those  districts  in  spite  of 
rather  doubtful  production  seem  to  make  good  and  seem 
to  be  in  the  way  of  increasing  their  production  for  the  next 
few  years.  That  is  a  point  in  doubt. 

Then  we  have  the  Transvaal.  The  Transvaal  produced 
in  1906  |119,000,000  in  gold.  The  question  is,  what  will  it 
do  in  the  future?  The  whole  problem  really  hinges  on  that. 
For  1907  the  figures  indicate  with  considerable  certainty 
that  the  Band  will  produce  $136,000,000  this  year,  conse- 
quently there  will  be  an  increase  of  $6,000,000.  The  in- 
crease in  production  in  Africa  will  probably  amount  to 
about  |9,000,000. 

Now,  summing  all  this,  we  reach  the  tentative  con- 
clusion— of  course  entirely  tentative — that  the  production 
for  1907  will  amount  to  $410,000,000;  that  is  to  say,  an  in- 
crease of  $8,000,000  or  $9,000,000  over  the  production  of 
1906. 

Now  as  to  the  future.  In  regard  to  the  Transvaal  and 
the  Band,  which  as  I  said  is  a  most  important  item,  the 
future  is  somewhat  shrouded  in  doubt.  I  have  not  the  privi- 
lege of  personal  acquaintance  with  the  field  but  from  opin- 
ions of  the  men  best  qualified  to  judge,  there  are  several 
influences  at  work  which  make  the  outlook  a  little  bit  doubt- 


270  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

ful.  Kerl,  perhaps  one  of  the  best  writers  on  the  subject, 
says  the  following  in  a  recent  article:  "If  more  money  for 
further  development  is  not  forthcoming,  the  further  devel- 
opment of  the  Rand  will  be  greatly  checked.  The  present 
number  of  stamps  which  is  8,000,  will  then  not  be  increased. 
The  whole  of  the  gold  field  will  be  apportioned  off  relative 
to  the  present  mills  and  stamps  and  the  ore  instead  of  being 
worked  out  at  full  pressure  in  thirty  years,  which  will  mean 
an  increasing  supply,  will  last  at  the  present  rate  of  ex- 
haustion for  an  indefinite  period." 

Now  it  seems  on  the  face  of  it  that  everything  should 
be  lovely  down  there,  but  unfortunately  it  is  not.  They 
have  their  labor  troubles  of  the  most  pronounced  and  diffi- 
cult character,  and  they  have  difficulty  in  procuring  the 
necessary  capital  for  their  further  work.  Some  of  the 
"out-crop"  mines,  as  they  are  called,  will  soon  be  exhausted 
and  big  shafts  must  be  sunk,  big  hoists  erected,  and  lots  of 
money  will  be  needed,  and  in  the  present  temper  of  the  in- 
Vesting  mining  public  in  England,  it  seems  rather  doubtful 
whether  that  amount  of  money  will  be  forthcoming. 

There  are  two  finalities  really  dependent  upon  the  im- 
portant developments  on  the  Rand.  One  is  that  the  gold  pro- 
duction will  be  maintained  at  about  the  present  rate  for 
a  number  of  years  is  about  as  far  as  we  can  say,  and 
the  other  is  that  money  will  be  provided  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Rand  industry,  that  labor  troubles  will  be 
avoided,  and  then  the  production  of  the  world  will  no  doubt 
be  greatly  increased  during  coming  years. 

I  must  once  more  call  your  attention  to  the  uncertainty 
involved  in  new  discoveries  coming  right  along.  You  see 
what  a  difference  the  Nevada  gold  fields  have  made.  What 
a  difference  the  Fairbanks  discoveries.  It  is  all  a  very  un- 
certain quantity  when  it  comes  to  future  discoveries.  We 
may  not  find  anything  of  value  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
again  some  stars  of  gold  mining  may  arise  on  the  horizon 
increasing  our  gold  supply  far  beyond  our  estimates. 

There  is  one  more  subject  on  which  I  would  like  to 
touch,  and  that  involves  a  question  in  political  economy  in  a 
way.  Students  of  Political  Economy  believe  that  gold  depre- 
ciates because  it  is  produced  in  such  large  quantities,  and 
that  finds  its  expression  as  I  have  said  in  increasing  the  rate 
of  wages  and  increasing  cost  of  commodities. 

Now  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  a  fact.  I  am  not 
the  first  one  that  suggested  it.  Mr.  Roberts,  the  Director 
of  the  Mint  suggested  it  in  one  of  his  reports,  that  if  this 
is  true,  it  is  apt  to  act  as  a  very  decided  agent  or  automatic 


THE    PRODUCTION    OF    GOLD  271 

regulation  on  the  gold  output  of  the  world.  If  wages  raise 
continually  because  gold  is  getting  cheaper,  more  plentiful, 
some  of  our  gold  mines  have  got  to  close.  It  was  more  or 
less  a  political  discussion  until  some  things  happened  a  few 
years  ago  that  made  it  appear  that  the  theory  was  well 
founded.  Take  for  instance,  what  happened  in  the  Angeles 
camp  in  California.  The  big  mines  were  working  on  big 
masses  of  low  grade  ores  and  made  some  profit.  This  year 
there  was  a  strike.  More  wages  were  demanded  and  the  op- 
erators decided  they  could  not  pay  them.  The  consequence 
was,  the  mines  closed  down.  Consequently  the  output  of 
California  will  be  much  curtailed  because  of  that.  Now 
the  same  thing  is  likely  to  happen,  especially  on  our  low 
grade  properties  which  increase  to  a  great  extent  the  gold 
production,  such  as  the  Treadwell  mines  in  Alaska,  the 
Black  Hill  mines  and  others.  On  the  other  hand,  in  opposi- 
tion to  this,  stands,  of  course,  the  possibilities  of  cheaper 
prices,  the  possibilities  of  increased  labor-saving  appliances, 
and  all  those  products  of  the  ingenuity  of  man.  Just  what 
the  sum  total  of  all  this  will  be  is  of  course  very  difficult  to 
predict. 

That,  then,  would  be  about  all  that  I  could  tell.  I  am 
sorry  it  is  so  little.  So  that  to  sum  up  the  prospects,  1907 
will  show  a  further  increase  in  the  production  of  the  world 
from  |403,000,000  to  about  $410,000,000.  Regarding  what 
will  happen  after  that,  the  question  is  very  much  involved. 
It  seems  likely,  as  I  said,  that  production  will  be  maintained 
at  an  increasing  rate,  but  there  is  also  the  possibility  that 
we  will  only  be  able  to  maintain  present  production  for  a 
number  of  years. 


Conservation  of  the  Nation's  Mineral  Resources 


BY  DR.   J.  A.   HOLMES,   WASHINGTON,   D.   C. 

Waste  as  a  National  Habit. 

The  world  recognizes  Americans  as  the  most  wasteful 
of  peoples  in  the  utilization  of  their  resources.  Certainly 
no  nation  received  so  rich  an  inheritance  as  did  the  United 
States  in  its  combination  of  soil  and  forest  and  climate  and 
.streams  and  mineral  resources.  The  nation  has  literally 
grown  up  in  luxury. 

Out  of  the  very  abundance  of  thes  resources  we  have  de- 
veloped an  indifference  to  economy  and  the  habit  of  waste. 
We  have  destroyed  our  game  for  its  hides  and  horns;  our 
forests  for  their  tan  bark,  or  a  pittance  of  the  lumber  they 
would  yield.  Meanwhile  with  a  thoughtless  indifference, 
we  have  allowed  the  forest  fires  to  burn  more  lumber  than 
we  have  used  in  the  building  of  homes  and  in  the  industries. 
Meanwhile,  through  the  destruction  of  the  forests  about  the 
sources  of  important  streams  and  the  improper  cultivation 
of  these  sloping  lands,  the  fertile  soils  are  washed  away 
from  the  fields  where  they  are  needed  and  deposited  in  the 
streams  and  in  the  harbors  of  the  country  from  which  their 
continued  removal  will  cost  an  enormous  sum. 

We  are  thus  gradually,  but  surely  destroying  the 
beauty  and  wealth  of  our  scenic  and  health-giving  moun- 
tains and  the  value  of  our  great  water  resources  for  power, 
for  irrigation,  and  for  navigation  purposes.  In  spite  of  our 
thoughtless  waste,  this  fertile  soil  and  genial  climate  have 
furnished  food  enough  for  the  nation  and  to  spare;  but  so 
luxurious  are  the  habits  developed  by  this  super-abundant 
production  of  food  that,  as  is  sometimes  said,  we  waste  food 
enough  to  supply  the  wants  of  another  nation  as  large  as 
our  own. 

I  The  Waste  of  the  Nation's  Mineral  Resources. 

Water,  in  some  respects  the  most  valuable  of  ail  our 
mineral  resources,  as  a  source  of  power,  is  being  wasted  day 
after  day  and  year  after  year  to  the  extent  of  millions  of 
horse-power.  As  the  essential  factor  in  all  irrigation 
work,  it  is  being  wasted  by  use  to  excess  in  many  instances; 
but  on  a  much  larger  scale  and  to  the  value  of  hundreds  of 
millions  of  dollars  it  is  being  allowed  to  go  to  waste  year 
after  year  by  not  being  used  at  all.  And  in  a  number  of 


CONSERVATION    OF    THE    NATION'S    MINERALS  273 

localities,  the  limited  supply  of  artesian  water  available  for 
irrigation  and  other  purposes  is  being  wasted  on  a  consid- 
erable scale  by  being  allowed  to  flow  continuously  when 
not  needed,  or  in  excess  of  actual  need. 

Other  mineral  resources  are  being  wasted  on  as  large 
n  scale  as  is  true  of  water,  but  their  waste  is  even  a  more 
serious  matter,  for  the  reason  that  the  supplies  are  not 
reproduced,  as  in  the  case  of  water,  but  when  once  ex- 
hausted, are  exhausted  permanently.  No  better  illustration 
of  this  fact  can  be  found  than  is  seen  in  the  deserted  mining 
camps,  deserted  after  the  mines  have  become  exhausted. 

In-  connection  with  metallurgical  processes  there  is 
often  a  waste  of  materials,  which  also  prove  injurious,  such 
as  the  large  quantities  of  sulphur  and  arsenic  vapors  that 
are  turned  loose  from  the  chimneys  of  the  modern  smelters. 
This  waste  is  largely  preventable,  and  should  be  prevented, 
for  the  double  reason  that  these  materials  have  a  com 
mercial  and  economic  value,  and  they  are  destructive  of 
adjacent  vegetation.  This  destruction  of  vegetation  allows 
the  rains  to  erode  the  bare  land  surface  and  deposit  the 
transported  soil  into  the  adjacent  streams. 

The  waste  in  metal  mining  and  treatment  of  gold,  sil- 
ver, copper,  lead,  zinc,  iron,  and  other  metallic  substances, 
under  old  time  practices,  was  frequently  as  high  as  from 
twenty  to  fifty  per  cent. ;  but  the  modern  mining,  milling  and 
smelting  processes  have,  of  late,  been  developed  along  the 
lines  of  increased  efficiency.  Under  these  more  modern 
practices,  waste  is  now  being  reduced  to  from  five  to  usually 
less  than  twenty-five  per  cent. 

Modern  chemistry  and  metallurgy  are  also  developing 
]>jj(n  esses  for  the  treatment  of  low  grade  ores  which  formerly 
wf-re  left  in  the  mines  or  on  the  dumps,  or  were  used  in  the 
construction  of  walls,  or  public  roads,  just  as  they  have 
developed  processes  for  the  profitable  re-treatment  of  the 
enormous  piles  of  tailings,  accumulated  under  the  cruder 
methods  of  treatment  practiced  only  a  few  years  since.  In 
the  mining  and  treatment  of  some  of  these  metalliferous 
ores,  however,  there  is  still  great  waste,  and  an  opportunity 
for  decided  improvement  which  in  time  is  sure  to  come,  as 
deposits  of  new  material  become  scarcer  and  mining  oper- 
ations more  expensive. 

In  the  mining  and  utilization  of  miscellaneous  min- 
erals existing  practice  is  a  great  improvement  over  that  of 
the  recent  past,  and  the  future  is  full  of  promise.  Thus,  in 
the  utilization  of  the  mica  deposits,  formerly  only  cut  sizes 
of  mica  were  used;  now  the  smaller  scales  are  being  col- 


274  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

lected,  ground  and  used  for  a  number  of  purposes.  The 
former  waste  in  the  quarry  is  now  being  largely  used  for 
macadamizing  public  highways,  for  mixing  with  cement 
and  -sand  in  the  construction  of  concrete  buildings,  or  for 
use  in  a  variety  of  other  ways.  The  waste  piles  about:  some 
of  the  coal  mines,  and  other  mines  of  the  past,  are  1  eing 
taken  back  into  the  mines,  and  new  waste  materials  are 
being  retained  in  the  mines  for  the  building  of  supporting 
pillars,  and  in  filling  space  otherwise  left  open  through  the 
extraction  of  the  mineral  deposits;  thus  greatly  diminishm£ 
the  need  for  timber  and  permitting  a  much  larger  extraction 
of  valuable  material  from  the  mines. 

Waste  in  the  Utilization  of  Fuels  is  a  problem  that  in  an 
especial  manner  concerns  the  general  public,  for  the  reason 
that  the  fuel  supplies  are  coining  to  be  regarded,  like  the 
water  and  the  forests  as  public  utilities.  They  furnish  our 
heat,  light  and  power;  they  serve  as  the  basis  of  industry 
and  of  transportation,  and  are,  therefore,  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  the  welfare  of  the  nation's  industries  and  commerce. 
But,  notwithstanding  their  vast  importance,  it  is  in  the 
mining  and  utilization  of  these  fuel  resources  that  we  prac- 
tice the  greatest  waste. 

The  waste  of  gas  and  petroleum  illustrate  this  practice. 

Persons  now  living  can  recall  when  the  great  gas  wells 
were  seemingly  inexhaustible  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania.  They  have  seen  the  innumerable 
gas  flames  pointing  skyward  day  and  night.  In  many  of 
those  fields,  this  gas  supply  was  wasted  in  a  manner  well- 
nigh  criminal,  and  the  exhaustion  has  been  so  complete 
that  there  is  no  ground  for  belief  that  other  supplies  of  gas 
will  be  discovered  in  many  of  those  special  regions. 

Petroleum  in  the  past  has,  in  like  manner,  been  wasted, 
both  in  enormous  overflows  and  the  burning  of  material. 
In  the  early  days  of  petroleum  there  was  also  an  enormous 
waste  through  the  failure  to  save  the  gasoline  and  other 
bi -products,  which  now  have  great  value.  Here,  however, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  metals,  the  modern  improved  practice 
is  doing  much  to  lessen  this  enormous  waste.  This  problem 
is  one  of  especial  importance  to  the  Pacific  Coast  states, 
owing  to  the  absence  of  adequate  coal  supplies. 

Coal  is  now  the  world's  greatest  fuel.  Wood  has  been  used 
extensively  in  the  past,  especially  for  domestic  purposes. 
Gas  and  petroleum  continue  to  have  extensive  local  use,  and 
in  power  and  light  developments,  water  power  will  play  an 
important  part  in  some  portions  of  the  country.  Alcohol 
and  the  solar  energy  may  contribute  their  mite  to  the  na- 


CONSERVATION    OF    THE   NATION'S    MINERALS  275 

tion's  power,  but  the  world's  great  centers  and  industries 
of  today,  and,  as  far  as  we  definitely  know,  of  the  future, 
must  look  to  coal  as  their  main  source  of  heat,  power  and 
light. 

Notwithstanding  its  recognized  importance,  its  mining 
and  use  are  subjected  to  large  waste.  In  the  mining  oper- 
ations at  the  present  time,  nearly  one-half  of  our  total  coal 
supply  is  left  under  ground,  partly  as  pillars  to  support  the 
roof;  partly  as  coal  of  inferior  quality,  only  the  best  part  of 
the  coal  from  the  beds  being  removed  in  many  cases,  and 
partly  due  to  the  fact  that  the  workings  out  of  lower  beds 
of  coal  first,  in  some  cases  breaks  and  renders  impracticable 
the  subsequent  mining  of  the  adjacent  higher  coal  beds.  Of 
the  coal  actually  used  for  power  development,  usually  not 
more  than  five  per  cent,  is  converted  into  actual  work,  the 
remainder  being  consumed  in  the  making  of  steam  and 
smoke,  and  in  overcoming  the  friction  and  inertia  of  the 
engine,  shafting,  etc.  Of  the  coal  used  in .  railway  oper- 
ations— which  includes  nearly  one  hundred  million  tons,  or 
nearly  one-fourth  of  the  total  supply  of  the  country — not 
more  than  five  per  cent,  is  transformed  into  actual  work 
of  pulling  the  trains.  Of  the  coal  used  in  the  development 
of  electric  lights,  usually  less  than  one-fifth,  and  often  less 
than  one-seventh,  of  one  per  cent,  is  actually  converted  into 
light;  the  remaining  ninety-nine  and  four-fifths,  or  six-sev- 
enths, per  cent,  being  consumed  in  the  various  preliminary 
formations  of  energy. 

This  waste  is  appalling,  and  every  possible  means 
should  be  adopted  for  reducing  it  to  a  minimum,  in  order 
that  our  fuel  resources  may  suffice  for  the  future  as  well 
as  for  the  present  needs  of  the  nation. 

What  Our  Coal  Represents. 

In  the  plant  life  of  the  earth  our  coal  fields  represent 
vast  areas  of  vegetable  matter,  accumulated  during  the  past 
periods  in  the  earth's  history,  later  and  gradually  trans- 
formed into  coal.  Every  foot  of  the  thickness  of  this  coal 
may  be  considered  the  equivalent  of  many  feet  of  the  origi- 
nal vegetation.  Of  the  sun's  light  and  heat  our  coal  represents 
enormous  quantities  transformed  and  stored  in  this  vegeta- 
tion, and  further  concentrated  in  the  coal.  It  is  the  earth's 
great  storage  battery  of  solar  energy.  In  time  this  coal 
represents  the  unmeasured  ages  of  the  past,  the  thousands 
and  millions  of  years  before  man  came  into  existence,  during 
which  this  solar  energy  was  being  stored  and  concentrated 
in  different  parts  of  the  earth's  crust.  In  the  nation's  welfare 


276  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

it  represents  the  basis  of  the  heat,  power  and  light  upon 
which  the  nation's  comfort  and  the  nation's  industries  and 
the  nation's  commerce  depend. 

How  the  Duration  of  Our  Coal  Supply  Can  Be  Extended. 

During  the  past  year  the  country  produced  and  used 
more  than  400,000,000  tons  of  coal;  during  the  ten  years  pre- 
ceding the  consumption  was  nearly  three  billion  tons— 
which  approximates  the  aggregate  consumption  of  the  sev- 
enty years  preceding.  (It  is  estimated  that  by  1950  the 
population  of  the  country  will  aggregate  over  200,000,000.) 
It  is  expected  that  the  rate  of  per  capita  consumption  of  coal 
for  domestic,  for  manufacturing,  and  for  transportation 
purposes  will  continue  to  increase  largely,  as  this  is  in  ac- 
cord with  the  logical  development  of  the  country. 

These  considerations  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  this 
rate  of  increase  in  our  coal  exhaustion  is  not  likely  to  di- 
minish greatly,  and  might  at  times  become  larger,  unless 
we  may  find  more  efficient  methods  of  mining  arid  using 
coal.  If  this  increasing  rate  does  continue,  it  is  estimated 
the  nation  will  have  used  the  larger  and  more  available 
part  of  its  coal  supply  before  the  end  of  the  next  century. 
At  that  time  there  will,  of  course,  still  be  much  coal  under- 
ground, but  it  will  be  low  in  grade,  or  much  higher  in  price, 
owing  to  its  greater  depth;  mining  will  be  more  expensive 
and  more  dangerous. 

In  considering  the  possibilities  of  extending  the  life 
of  our  coal  supplies,  so  as  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  future 
as  well  as  those  of  the  present,  we  must  therefore  reckon 
with  the  continuance  of  these  rapidly  growing  needs  of  the 
country,  and  our  possibilities  of  success  in  meeting  these 
on  a  rational  basis  will  be  along  the  following  lines: 

(1)  The  prevention  of  waste  in  mining.  The  coal  left 
in  the  mines  as  pillars  to  support  the  roof,  together  with 
that  left  under  ground  because  of  its  being  inferior,  or  low 
grade  in  quality,  will  range  from  less  than  ten  to  more  than 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  total,  these  extreme  figures  rep- 
resenting unusual  conditions.  Add  to  these  the  loss  arising 
from  the  breaking  up  of  closely  overlying  beds  of  coal  owing 
to  the  previous  removal  of  the  lower  beds  and  the  caving  in 
of  the  overlying  strata,  and  we  have  a' total  waste  which  will 
aggregate  on  the  average  but  little,  if  any  less  than  fifty 
per  cent,  of  the  possible  total  available  supply.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  an  increasingly  large  part  of  this  waste  will  be 
found  preventable. 


CONSERVATION    OF    THE    NATION'S    MINERALS  277 

(2)  We  must  use  coal  with  greater  efficiency.     The 
small  percentage  of  the  heat  units  in  coal  that  are  actually 
converted  into  work  or  light,  as  stated  above,  indicates  the 
urgent  need  of  improvement  along  these  lines.    The  investi- 
gation now  being  conducted  by  the  Technologic  Branch  of 
the  IT.  S.  Geological  Survey,  indicates  the  possibility  of  in- 
creasing these  fuel  efficiencies  by  two  or  three  fold,  and 
suggests  still  greater  possibilities  which  will  soon  be  tested. 
These  investigations  also  point  to  the  extensive  future  use 
of  dirty  low  grade  coals  now  left  underground  or  thrown 
away.    The  future  along  these  lines  is  full  of  promise,  but 
the  solution  of  these  problems  calls  for  extended  further 
investigation. 

(3)  We  should  be  looking  out  for  possible  substitutes 
for  high  grade  coals.    There  will  be,  in  the  near  future,  a 
larger  use  of  running  waters  for  power  and  light  develop- 
ment, and  such  developments  should  be  encouraged. 

There  will  also  continue  a  diminishing  development  ol* 
heat  and  power  through  the  use  of  wood;  and  the  planting 
of  new  forests  should  everywhere  meet  with  favor.  In  the 
New  England,  Atlantic  and  some  of  the  middle  northern 
states,  there  will  be  some  utilization  of  the  peat  beds  for 
similar  purposes,  and  investigations  should  be  made  to  dis- 
cover the  most  efficient  ways  of  utilizing  these  deposits. 

A  limited  future  use  of  alcohol  made  from  wood  and 
farm  products  for  heat  and  power  purposes,  seems  certain, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  but  not  certain,  that  cheaper  methods 
may  reduce  its  cost  to  come  within  reach  of  commercial 
practice,  say  twelve  cents  or  fifteen  cents  per  gallon. 

Petroleum  and  natural  gas  will  long  continue  as  large 
local,  but  in  a  measure,  temporary  contributors  to  the  com- 
forts and  industries  of  the  nation,  and  our  supplies  of  these 
should  be  efficiently  utilized.  It  is  occasionally  suggested 
that  the  heat  of  the  sun  may  be  stored  from  day  to  day  In 
sufficient  quantities  for  continuous  power  development;  but 
the  suggestion  has,  as  yet,  too  indefinite  a  basis  to  permit 
of  its  serious  consideration  in  the  present  connection, 
though  this  is  worthy  of  serious  investigation. 

These  considerations  are  all  important,  but  at  the  pres- 
ent time  the  sum  of  all  these  possible  substitutes  in  the  na- 
tion's supply  of  heat  and  power  and  light,  cannot  now  be 
expected  to  seriously  lessen  the  rate  of  increase  in  the  na- 
tion's enormous  demand  for  fuel;  and  we  must  revert  again 
with  renewed  emphasis,  to  the  necessity  of  lessening  the 
waste,  and  increasing  efficiencies  in  the  utilization  of  our 
coal  supply. 


278  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

How  Can  These  Reforms  Be  Brought  About? 

(1)  Let  us  find  out  all  the  facts  in  the  case.  The  investi- 
gation now  under  way  by  the  government  should  be  ex- 
tended until  every  phase  of  these  important  problems  has 
been  carefully  inquired  into  and  definite  facts  have  been 
obtained. 

(2)  This  information  should  be  placed  before  the  peo- 
ple of  the  country  in  such  form  as  to  be  readily  understood. 

Both  the  producers  and  users  of  fuel  can  be  expected 
to  co-operate  in  remedying  the  existing  evils  as  fast  as  com- 
mercial conditions  will  permit;  but  should  legislative  meas- 
ures prove  necessary  at  any  time,  the  reliable  data  thu* 
obtained  will  serve  as  a  guarantee  that  such  legislation  will 
be  wisely  directed. 

Why  the  Fuel  Resources  Should  Be  Conserved. 

(1)  Their  supply  is  limited,  and,  considered  in  connec- 
tion with  the  life  of  the  nation,  the  early  exhaustion  is  cer- 
tain, unless  the  greatest  care  be  exercised. 

(2)  The  exhaustion  of  mineral  resources  is  a  perma- 
nent exhaustion.    One  year's  wheat  crop,  when  consumed, 
is  replaced  by  that  of  the  succeeding  year.    The  forest  re- 
sources of  one  period,  when  exhausted,  under  favorable  con- 
ditions, may  be  replaced  by  a  succeeding  forest  within  a  few 
decades  or  centuries.    A  water  supply  of  one  day,  or  of  one 
period,  under  favorable  conditions,  may  be  continued  in- 
definitely by  nature's  repeating  processes,  but  when  a  de- 
posit of  coal,  or  oil,  or  nature's  gas,  or  iron  ore,  has  been  ex- 
hausted, this  exhaustion,  as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  is  per- 
manent. 

(3)  The  mineral  resources  of  the  country  belong  to 
the  future,  as  well  as  to  the  present  generation  of  men. 
They  should  be  used,  but  not  Avasted.    The  creation  of  these 
deposits  required  thousands  or  millions  of  years.     Their 
present,  so-called  owners,  had  no  part  in  this  creation  of 
resources,  and  have  no  real  rights  to  them  beyond  present 
actual  needs. 

(4)  Let  us  riot  forget  that  these  mineral  fuels,  which 
we  call  our  own,  represent  in  concentrated  form,  a  storage 
battery  of  the  sun's  heat  and  light,  accumulated  during 
countless  ages  that  passed  before  the  human  race  came  into 
existence.    Let  not  the  men  of  the  present  generation  com- 
mit the  unpardonable  sin  of  Avasting  the  necessary  birth- 
right of  the  generations  yet  unborn.    This  nation  must  have 
a,  great  future  as  well  as  a  great  present. 


CONSERVATION    OF    THE    NATION'S    MINERALS  279 

(5)  The  fuel  supplies  of  the  country  will  be  sufficient 
for  both  present  and  future  needs,  if  we  stop  their  waste 
and  practice  increasing  efficiency  in  their  utilization.  There^ 
can  be  no  suggestion  looking  to  the  curtailment  of  present' 
needs.    And  these  needs  will  increase  in  proportion  as  the 
nation  grows  in  population,  and  in  the  extent  and  diversity 
of  its  industries.     And  while  the  present  generation  has  a 
right  to  use  the  fuel  which  it  actually  needs,  it  is  bound 
by  every  principle  of  right  and  justice,  not  to  wraste  this 
precious  heritage. 

(6)  The  future    ascendency    of    American  industries 
will  depend  largely  on  our  manufacturers  being  able  to 
secure  cheap  fuel.    The  value  and  cost  of  labor  will  never 
be  reduced  in  the  United  States  to  what  they  are  in  foreign 
countries;  but  this  fact  renders  all  the  more  essential,  in  the 
struggle  for   industrial    and    commercial   supremacy,  that 
the  manufacturers  of  this  country  be  able  to  obtain  fuel 
supplies  cheaper  than  they  are  to  be  had  in  other  countries. 

We  cannot  continue  this  wasteful  consumption  of  our 
fuel  resources,  and  at  the  same  time  perpetuate  the  supply 
of  cheap  fuels.  The  only  solution  of  the  problem  is  that  we 
must  learn  to  use  our  fuels  more  efficiently;  and  we  must 
stop  this  enormous  waste. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  consumed  during  the 
past  year  about  415,000,000  tons  of  coal  besides  large  quan- 
tities of-  oil  and  gas  and  wood.  The  total  cost  of  this  fuel 
in  the  furnaces  was  not  less  than  |2,000,000.  The  future 
growing  scarcity  of  wood,  gas  and  oil,  and  the  Increasing 
cost  of  mining  the  coal  as  the  surface  beds  are  exhausted 
and  the  mines  become  deeper  and  more  dangerous,  will 
naturally  increase  the  aggregate  expenditure  for  fueJ,  even 
faster  than  the  tonnage  increases.  But  the  welfare  of  the 
nation  demands  not  only  that  the  future  has  a  coal  supply, 
but  that  the  cost  of  this  supply  be  kept  as  low  as  possible. 

(7)  The  United  States  need  not  expect  to  draw  future 
coal  supplies  from  other  countries,  except  for  limited  use 
along  our  Pacific  coast;  as  no  other  country  can  spare  from 
its  own  reserves  coal  enough  to  meet  any  appreciable  part 
of  our  growing  needs. 

(8)  In  every  civilized  country,  the  conservation  of  fuels 
and  other  great  resources  of  public  utilities,  is  properly 
coming  to  be  regarded  as  a  national  problem,  because  in 
every  country  these  materials  serve  as  a  basis  of  national 
welfare.     The  individual  citizen  looks  to  the  present.     He 
sees  little  beyond  his  individual  interest  of  today.   The  na- 
tion while  helping  the  citizen  today,  must  safe-guard  the 


280  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

welfare  of  the  citizen  of  tomorrow,  by  a  judicious  conserva- 
tion of  these  resources,  which,  in  reality,  belong  not  to  the 
individual,  but  in  a  higher  sense,  to  the  nation. 

The  Fuel  Problems  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States. 
In  this  great  Trans-Mississippi  region,  seven  states  ana 
one  territory  contain  practically  no  coal.  But  there  are  one 
territory  and  twelve  states  that  together  contain  260,000 
square  miles  of  coal  fields,  or  twice  that  area  embraced  in 
the  coal  fields  east  of  the  Mississippi.  And  although  these 
more  eastern  fields  now  produce  more  than  five  and  a  half 
times  as  much  coal  as  do  the  Trans-Mississippi  fields,  yet 
the  production  of  the  latter  is  in  its  infancy  and  may  be  ex- 
pected to  increase  largely. 

Many  of  the  western  coal  fields  are  at  a  'double  dis- 
advantage in  supplying  the  needs  of  a  growing  nation,  ow- 
ing to  (1)  the  absence  of  high  grade  coking  coals  that  would 
serve  as  a  basis  of  iron  and  steel  industries  and  (2)  the  large 
portion  of  these  far  western  coal  fields  in  which  the  coal 
is  lignitic  or  high  ash  or  otherwise  inferior  in  quality. 

But  in  a  number  of  these  Trans-Mississippi  states  as  in 
the  splendid  young  commonwealth  of  Oklahoma,  there  are 
ample  supplies  of  coals  of  good  quality  for  general  pur- 
poses; and  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  we  shall  see  in 
them  a  growth  of  varied  manufacturing  industries  as  re- 
markable as  has  been  their  development  in  mining  and  agri- 
culture. 

And  even  in  the  more  western  states,  where  the  low 
grade  and  lignitic  coals  are  more  abundant,  such  investiga- 
tions as  are  now  being  conducted  by  the  government,  prom- 
ise a  future  efficient  use  of  these  coals,  for  power  develop- 
ment which  will  avoid  the  cost  of  their  transportation  by 
locating  power  plants  at  the  mines  and  transmitting  the 
developed  electric  power  to  manufacturing  centers  on  the 
lines  of  transportation.  For  the  full  development  of  the 
greater  West  the  growth  of  manufacture  must  now  follow 
in  the  wake  of  mining  and  agricultural  industries,  and  this 
they  are  certain  to  do  if  the  power  supply  proves  adequate. 
The  Trans-Continental  lines  must  be  increased,  double - 
tracked,  and  over  the  mountains  they  must  be  electrified,  so 
that  their  full  capacity  may  be  used  in  transporting  articles 
of  commerce,  instead  of  in  carrying  fuel  with  which  to  feed 
their  locomotives. 

For  this  greater  development,  abundant  and  cheap 
power  are  essential.  Every  stream  of  water  must  be  util- 
ized to  its  full  capacity,  for  irrigation,  for  power  and  for 


CONSERVATION    OF    THE    NATION'S    MINERALS  281 

navigation.  Every  coal  field  and  every  oil  field  must  be  made 
to  render  its  most  efficient  service.  Not  only  should  there 
be  no  fuel  wasted,  but  every  variety  of  fuel  should  be  used 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  best  adapted  and  most 
needed.  For,  otherwise,  in  this  West,  where  the  fuelsupply 
is  inadequate,  even  for  the  present  needs,  all  unnecessary 
Avaste  is  unbusiness-like  and  criminal.  And  even  in  the 
states  where  we  boast  of  "exhaustless  resources,"  the  con- 
tinued wastefulness  of  a  few  generations  will  render  im- 
possible the  greater  future  to  which  the  nation  is  entitled. 

The  doctrine  that  self  preservation  is  the  first  law  of 
nature  is  not  only  as  applicable  to  the  nation  as  it  is  to  the 
citizen,  but  the  brave  and  pat  riotic  individual  has  ever  been 
willing  in  time  of  war  to  give  up  his  life,  if  need  be,  in  order 
that  the  nation  might  live. 

We  are  now  dealing  with  problems  that  have  to  do 
with  the  life  of  the  nation  in  time  of  peace.  These  are  prob- 
lems, however,  which  deserve  and  need,  for  their  proper  so- 
lution the  highest  type  of  patriotism,  American  business 
sense  and  statesmanship. 


Lead  and  Zinc  Resources  of  Missouri 


BY  E.  R.  BUCKLEY    Ph.D.,  DIRECTOR  MISSOURI  BUREAU  OF  GEOLOGY 

AND  MINES. 

The  world's  production  of  spelter  in  1900  amounted  to 
775,871  tons.  Of  this  amount  the  United  States  produced 
224,770  tons,  or  29  per  cent",  of  the  total.  Of  the  total  pro- 
duction in  the  United  States  the  Ozark  region,  comprising 
parts  of  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas  and  Indian  Territory, 
furnished  136,051  tons,  or  60.6  per  cent.  Missouri  alone 
produced  58  per  cent.,  or  nearly  17  per  cent,  of  the  world's 
output. 

In  1906  the  United  States  produced  347,695  tons  of  pig 
lead.    During  the  same  year  the  Ozark  region  produced  113,- 
107  tons,  or  32.5  per  cent,  of  the  total.    Of  this  amount  Mis 
souri  produced  111,075  tons,  or  31.9  per  cent. 

In  the  production  of  zinc  Missouri  ranks  first;  in  the 
production  of  lead  Missouri  ranks  second,  being  surpassed 
only  by  Idaho.  In  the  combined  production  of  lead  and  zinc 
the  output  of  Missouri  is  greater  than  that  of  Idaho,  the 
next  state  in  production,  by  123,733  tons.  In  other  words 
the  combined  output  of  lead  and  zinc. from  Missouri  is  more 
than  double  that  of  Idaho,  and  nearly  equals  the  combined 
output  of  Idaho,  Colorado  and  Utah,  the  three  states  rank- 
ing next  to  Missouri  in  production. 

In  1906  and  1907  there  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  800 
shafts  being  operated  in  the  Southwestern  Missouri  Lead 
and  Zinc  District.  In  the  Southeastern  or  Disseminated 
Lead  District  there  are  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifty  shafts, 
of  which  forty  are  in  almost  continuous  operation.  The 
shafts  are  of  large  dimensions,  two  or  three  compartment, 
and  the  mines  which  they  connect  will  soon  be  supplying 
mills  having  a  combined  daily  capacity  of  10,000  tons  of 
ore. 

Beyond  the  limits  of  these  well  known  districts,  skirt- 
ing the  Ozark  region  to  the  north  and  south,  are  numerous 
mines  and  prospects  which  have  been  operated  occasionally 
during  the  last  forty  years.  Some  of  these,  as  the  Virginia 
and  Bellew  in  Franklin  County,  the  Renault  Mines  in  Wash- 
ington County,  the  Fortuna  mines  in  Moniteau  County,  and 
the  Valle's  mines  in  Jefferson  County,  have  been  rich  and 
productive. 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES   -OF    MISSOURI  283 

Iii  addition  to  the  lead  and  zinc  mines  the  Ozark  region 
and  the  St.  Francois  Mountains  have  produced  millions 
of  tons  of  iron  ore.  The  mines  are  still  being  operated.  This 
region  is  the  greatest  producer  of  barite  in  the  United 
States.  Copper  has  been  and  is  being  produced  in  this 
region  and  an  attempt  is  being  made  to  refine  the  nickel 
and  cobalt  matte  obtained  in  the  smelting  of  the  lead  ores 
of  the  Madison  County  area. 

Not  only  does  the  Ozark  region  excel  in  the  production 
of  lead  and  zinc,  but  she  also  excels  in  the  quality  of  the  ores 
and  metals  produced  therefrom.  The  zinc  blende  mined  in 
this  region  hovers  constantly  about  the  60  per  cent,  mark, 
while  the  galena  seldom  assays  less  than  80  per  cent,  metal- 
lic lead.  The  Missouri  soft  pig  lead  is  known  the  world  over 
as  being  of  superior  quality. 

The  -lead  and  zinc  mines  of  the  Ozark  region  are  sur- 
rounded by  areas  rich  in  mineral  fuels.  The  marvelously 
productive  gas  belt  of  Kansas  and  the  extensive  coal  fields 
of  Illinois  are  the  nearest  fuel  regions  to  the  lead  and  zinc 
mining  districts,  for  which  reason  the  ores  mined  in  Mis- 
souri are  smelted  chiefly  in  the  neighboring  states  of  Kan- 
sas and  Illinois. 

If  an  apology  be  needed  for  entering  into  a  somewhat 
detailed  discussion  of  the  geology  of  and  genesis  of  the  ores 
of  this  region,  I  believe  it  will  be  found  in  the  foregoing 
brief  statement  of  the  importance  of  the  area. 

The  Geology  of  the  Ozark  Region. 

In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  of  Missouri  there 
are  areas  of  ancient  Pre-Cambrian  igneous  rocks,  chiefly 
granite,  rhyolite  (porphyry)  and  diabase.  These  rocks  form 
hills  and  ridges  known  as  the  St.  Francois  Mountains.  The 
highest  of  these  hills  has  an  elevation  of  1,800  feet  above 
sea  level,  which  is  about  900  feet  above  the  general  level  of 
the  country  in  which  they  occur. 

These  rocks  contain  small  percentages  of  the  metals, 
gold,  silver,  lead,  zinc,  copper,  nickel,  cobalt  and  iron,  as 
shown  by  chemical  analysis.  Occasional  veins  of  galena 
and  zinc  blende  occur  in  these  rocks  but  thus  far  they  have 
not  been  successfully  exploited.  Several  quartz  veins  and 
diabase  dikes  have  been  prospected  for  gold,  silver  and  other 
metals  and  although  they  show  small  percentages,  the  re- 
sults have  not  been  especially  encouraging.  It  appears  that 
there  has  been  very  little  secondary  concentration,  which  is 
so  important  a  factor  in  producing  ore  bodies  of  commercial 
importance. 


284  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

The*  practically  unaltered  igneous  rocks  contain  small 
percentages  of  lead  and  zinc  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
original  source  of  all  the  lead  and  zinc  minerals  of  our  lead 
and  zinc  mining  districts  is  the  igneous  rocks  which  once 
formed  a  part  of  the  hills  now  known  as  the  St.  Francois 
mountains. 

The  Ozark  region  is  a  dissected  plateau  occupying  a 
greater  part  of  the  southern  half  of  Missouri  and  portions 
of  Kansas,  Indian  Territory  and  Arkansas.  The  St.  Fran- 
cois mountains  are  located  on  the  eastern  flank  of  Ibis  up- 
lift, the  name  being  applied  only  to  the  hills  of  pre-Cain- 
brian,  igneous  rocks.  A  greater  portion  of  the  Ozark  region 
is  occupied  with  formations  belonging  to  the  Cumbrian  and 
Ordovician  series.  Flanking  the  regioti  on  all  sides  are 
formations  belonging  to  the  Silurian,  Devonian  and  Car- 
boniferous. Small  isolated  areas  of  Mississlppian  and 
Pennsylvanian  strata  are  irregularly  scattered  over  the 
Ozark  plateau.  The  Cambrian  and  Ordovician  formations 
.consist  chiefly  of  dolomitic  limestone,  sandstone  and  chert. 
The  Silurian  consists  chiefly  of  limestone,  with  a.  little 
shale;  the  Devonian  is  mainly  limestone  and  shale;  the  Mis- 
sissippian  is  chiefly  limestone,  cherty  in  places  with  some 
shale  and  a  little  sandstone;  the  lower  portion  of  the  Peiin- 
sylvanian  is  chiefly  shale  and  sandstone,  while  the  upper 
portion  is  chiefly  limestone  and  shale. 

The  different  formations  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
were  not  laid  down  in  an  unbroken  succession.  Some  of 
them  are  separated  by  well  marked  unconformities.  The 
best  defined  and  most  important  of  these  unconformities 
occur  at  the  base  of  the  LaMotte  sandstone  Avhich  rests  upon 
the  pre-Cambrian  igneous  rocks;  at  the  base  of  the  Missis- 
sippian,  which  rests  upon  several  of  the  older  Silurian, 
Ordovician  and  Cambrian  formations,  and  at  the  base  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  which  rests  on  the  Mississippian  and  other 
older  formations  of  the  Ozark  region  . 

As  a  result  of  the  uplift  of  the  Ozark  region,  the  beds 
have  been  in  some  places  slightly  folded,  faulted  and  every - 
Avhere  prominently  jointed.  The  faulting  in  this  region  oc- 
curs chiefly  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Ozarks  and  'm  close 
proximity  to  the  St^  Francois  Mountains.  There  is  some 
faulting  in  other  portions  of  the  region,  but  it  is  not  con 
spicuous  and  seldom  associated  with  deposits  of  lead  and 
zinc  ore. 

The  following  is  a  geological  section  of  this  region 
showing  the  horizons  in  which  the  lead  and  zinc  ores  chiefly 
occur  in  this  state; 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OF    MISSOURI 


285 


QUATERNARY 


Alluvium 
lowan  Loess 


Unconformity 


TERTIARY-LAFAYETTE  Gravel,  Sand  and  Clay. 


Unconformity 


Missourian 


Occasional  crystal  of  zinc  blende 


PENNSYLVANIAN 


Des    Moines 


Zinc    Blende    and    galena,    chiefly 
in   isolated  areas. 


Unconformity. 


MISSISSIPPIAN 


Chester 

•{ 

Tribune 

I 

Cypress 

St.    Louis 

f 

Ste.   Genevieve 

of. 

i 

St.    Louis     Occasional    crystal 
zinc    blende 

Spergen 

Warsaw 

. 

f         Birdsville 


Keokuk          ]  f  Ore     bearing    for- 

Also      called    [  mation      of      the 

"Boone"       -(south  west      Mo. 

|  lead      and      zinc 

Burlington   J  i  district. 


Chemung 

or 
Kinderhookj 


Chouteau 


Hannibal 


Louisiana      Occasional      zinc 
I  blende  crystals 


DEVONIAN 


Bushberg 


Sulphur  Sp'gs{         Glen  Park 

Unnamed  shale 


Grand   Tower,    (Hamilton  and  Onondaga) 


Clear   Creek    (Oriskany) 


SILURIAN 


Bailey    (Lower  Helderburg) 


Niagara    (Bainbridge)      Occasional  crystal   of  zinc 
blende. 

Girardeau   (Cape  Girardeau) 


286 


PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 


ORDOVICIAN 


Hudson  River  Shale   (Thebes) 


Kimmswick   [Receptaculites] 


Plattin   [Trenton] 


Joachim 


I    St.  Peters 


Unconformity 


f   Jefferson  City        Some  lead  and  zinc  ore 


UPPER  CAMBRIAN 


A  number  of  mines.  Moniteau  Co. 

Roubidoux 

Some    lead    and    zinc    ore.    Small 
mines   in   Central  Ozark  region 

Gasconade 

Some  lead  and  zinc  mines  in  Cen- 
tral  Ozark  region 

Unconformity 

Proctor 

Eminence 

Potosi 

Lead  and  zinc.      Washington  and 
Jefferson  counties 

Unconformity 

Elvins 

[Doe  Run     Some  zinc  crystals 

-j  Derby            Some    galena    crystals 

[Davis 

MIDDLE     CAMBRIAN 


Bonneterre  Formation  in  which  the  Dissem- 

inated   Ore    occurs.      St.    Francois 
and  Madison  counties 


Lamotte 


A  little  galena  near  the  top 


Unconformity 


HURONIAN 


Pilot  Knob 


Unconformity. 


Diabase 


Some   galena  and   zinc   blende 


LAURENTIAN  1    Granite 


Veins    of   galena 


Rhyolite 


Traces  of  galena  by  analysis 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OP    MISSOURI  28Y 

Origin  of  the  Lead  and  Zina  Ores  of  Southwest  (Joplin)  District. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  origin  of  the  lead  and  zinc 
ores  of  this  district  has  been  the  basis  of  a  widespread  dis- 
cussion by  Economic  Geologists  and  Mining  Engineers.  The 
geologists  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  have  contended 
that  these  ore  deposits  were  the  result  of  a  first  concentra- 
tion through  an  artesian  circulation  and  a  secondary  con- 
centration or  enrichment  through  downward  circulation. 

This  theory  was  originally  based  upon  the  supposed 
widespread  occurrence  of  faults  and  fault  breccias  asso- 
ciated with  the  ore  bodies  through  which  it  was  possible  for 
the  water  circulating  through  the  Cambro-Ordovician  for- 
mations below  to 'reach  the  surface.  According  to  this 
theory  the  immediate  source  of  the  lead  and  zinc  minerals 
was  thought  to  be  the  Cambro-Ordovician  formations  which 
constitute  a  major  portion  of  the  Ozark  region. 

As  a  result  of  the  investigations  of  the  Bureau  of 
Geology  and  Mines  of  this  state,  it  was  recognized  that  be- 
tween the  Mississippian  and  Pennsylvanian  series,  there 
existed  an  unconformity  co-extensive  with  the  areas  ex- 
amined. It  became  clearly  evident  that  those  who  had 
mapped  extensive  faults  in  this  district  had  in  some  manner 
been  mistaken.  The  faults  mapped  in  the  Aurora,  Joplin 
and  Granby  areas  are  clearly  planes  of  discordant  bedding 
due  to  the  unconformity  between  the  Mississippian  and 
Pennsylvanian  series.  In  some  cases  there  is  evidence  of 
movement  between  the  Pennsylvanian  and  Mississippian 
series  within  or  adjacent  to  the  so-called  breccias  at  the  base 
of  the  Pennsylvanian.  A  detailed  examination  revealed  the 
fact  that  these  movements  were  small,  although  frequently 
of  sufficient  intensity  to  develop  slickensides.  Later  inves- 
tigations of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  have  con- 
firmed our  observations  that  faults  of  sufficient  magnitude 
to  be  considered  in  connection  with  "an  artesian  circula- 
tion" theory  of  the  origin  of  the  ore  deposits  do  not  exist 
in  this  district.  The  greatest  faults  recognized  in  the 
Southwestern  and  Central  Ozark  districts  are  in  no  way  con- 
nected with  the  deposits  of  lead  and  zinc  ores.  The  greatest 
faults  positively  recognized  in  this  district  do  not  have  a 
displacement  of  over  25  feet. 

It  follows  as  a  corollary  that  there  are  no  fault  breccias 
in  this  district.  The  so-called  breccias  are  in  part  basal  con- 
glomerates and  in  part  a  result  of  solution.  The  different 
types  of  breccias  in  this  district  are  so  intimately  associated 
as  to  make  a  separation  or  classification  a  matter  of  some 
difficulty  and  greater  uncertainty.  The  absence  of  faults 


288  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

and  fault  breccias  argues  that  very  little  of  the  water  circu- 
lating through  the  deeply  underlying  Cambro-Ordovician 
formations  reaches  the  superficial  zone  in  which  the  ores 
occur. 

Analyses  made  in  the  laboratory  of  the  Bureau  of  Ge- 
ology and  Mines  and  elsewhere  indicate  that  the  waters 
from  the  Cambro-Ordovician  series  obtained  from  deep 
wells,  do  not  contain  an  appreciable  quantity  of  zinc.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  mine  waters  which  represent  chiefly  the 
downward  circulation,  near  the  surface,  contain  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  both  lead  and  zinc,  chiefly  the  latter.  Some 
of  the  wells  from  which  water  wras  obtained  for  analysis 
are  not  cased  and  consequently  the  traces  of  lead  arid  zinc- 
detected  may  have  been  due  to  the  seepage  of  surface  waters 
into  the  wells.  Mr.  George  Waring  of  Webb  City  has  made 
repeated  analyses  of  the  mine  waters  from  the  upper  super- 
ficial zone  of  150  to  200  feet  and  finds  that  they  contain  from 
0.4  to  2.5  grams  per  liter  of  zinc.  It  is  also  interesting  to 
note  that  the  quantity  of  magnesia  in  the  water  from  the 
deep  wells  is  much  less  than  that  obtained  from  the  mine 
waters.  If,  as  contended,  the  original  source  of  the  mag- 
nesia, lead,  zinc  and  iron  were  the  deep-seated  ground 
waters,  represented  by  an  artesian  circulation,  it  is  remark- 
able that  these  waters  at  the  present  time  do  not  contain 
measurable  quantities  of  the  metals  other  than  magnesium. 

The  practical  absence  of  lead  and  zinc  in  the  waters 
from  deep  wells,  and  the  absence  of  brecciated  or  fault  zones 
which  might  provide  avenues  of  communication  between  the 
Cambro-Ordovician  and  the  surface  argue  against  the  direct 
derivation  of  the  lead  and  zinc  from  the  magnesian  lime- 
stones of  the  Cambro-Ordovician  series  by  an  artesian  circu- 
lation. 

All  the  evidence  which  we  have  been  able  to  gather 
indicates  that  the  ore  bodies  from  the  first  to  the  Nth  con- 
centration are  the  result  of  converging,  downward  circu- 
lating waters,  the  oxidizing  portions  of  which  carried  the 
metallic  salts  and  the  reducing  portions  the  organic  matter 
which  provided  the  condition  necessary  for  precipitation. 
It  is  believed  that  the  early  concentration  of  the  zinc  blende 
was  contemporaneous  with  a  deposition  of  at  least  a  part  oi 
the  black  flint.  Both  were  deposited  after  the  Mississip- 
pian-Pennsylvanian  erosion  interval.  The  organic  matter 
which  gives  color  to  the  flint  was  derived  from  the  bitumi- 
nous shales,  being  carried  into  the  broken  residual  flint  beds 
and  the  flint  conglomerate  by  downward  circulating  waters, 
which  probably  also  carried  silica  either  in  suspension  or  in 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES  OF    MISSOURI  289 

solution.  When  the  precipitation  of  the  silica  took  place  it 
evidently  carried  down  with  it  very  finely  pulverulent  car- 
bonaceous or  asphaltic  material  with  both  of  which  the 
shales  were  impregnated.  The  bituminous  and  asphaltic 
materials  which  now  impregnate  the  flint  "breccias"  and 
the  Mississippian  limestone  were  also  derived  from  the  over- 
lying bituminous  shales  of  the  Pennsylvanian,  being  carried 
downward  in  advance  of  the  erosion  which  removed  these 
rocks,  either  by  gravity  alone  or  by  gravity  assisted  by 
water.  Contemporaneous  downward  circulating  waters 
carried  lead  and  zinc  salts  which  were  precipitated  with  the 
silica  and  carbonaceous  matter,  forming  what  is  known  as 
the  disseminated  black  flint  ore. 

Since  a  part  of  the  black  flint  and  the  dolomitic  spar 
were  contemporaneous  deposits,  it  is  very  probable  that 
some  of  the  zinc  blende  associated  with  the  spar  belongs  to 
an  early  stage  in  the  process  of  concentration. 

The  evidence  at  hand  goes  to  show  that  the  lead  and 
zinc  were  probably  derived  from  the  overlying  Pennsyl- 
vanian shales  and  limestone  being  carried  downward  as 
they  were  disintegrated  and  eroded.  There  are  numerous 
deposits  of  lead  and  zinc  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state 
where  one  can  scarcely  account  for  their  presence  except 
through  the  disintegration  and  decomposition  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania shales  and  limestones.  In  Miller  County  alone 
there  are  eight  or  ten  isolated  areas  of  Pennsylvanian  shale 
in  which  galena  or  zinc  blende,  sometimes  both,  are  found. 
These  minerals  either  occur  along  the  contact  between  the 
shale  and  the  underlying  magnesian  limestone  or  filling, 
jointing  and  bedding  planes  within  the  shale.  There  are 
many  similar  occurrences  of  zinc  blende  and  galena  in  the 
areas  of  Carboniferous  shale  and  coal  in  Moniteau,  Cooper 
and  other  counties  in  the  central  part  of  the  state. 

The  ground  water  passing  through  these  isolated  areas 
of  Pennsylvanian  shales  and  coal  has  had  no  special  avenues 
of  communication  with  the  deep  underground  circulation. 
The  ore  bodies  do  not  extend  beyond  the  influence  of  the  so- 
lutions passing  downward  or  laterally  through  the  coal 
pockets.  Every  condition  leads  one  to  believe  that  these 
lead  and  zinc  minerals  have  been  brought  to  their  present 
position  by  downward  circulating  waters. 

Everywhere  through  the  Pennsylvanian  strata  there 
are  seams  and  crystals  of  iron  sulphide,  and  were  we  to 
make  careful  chemical  analyses  of  the  shale  and  coal  tribu- 
tary to  this  district  it  is  thought  that  there  would  be  found 


290  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

as  great  a  quantity  of  lead  and  zinc  as  has  been  found  in  the 
unaltered  dolomities  of  the  Cambro-Ordovician. 

Some  of  the  lead  and  zinc  may  have  been  originally  de- 
posited with  the  limestone  in  which  the  ore  bodies  now  oc- 
cur, but  analyses,  although  they  may  show  the  presence  of 
lead  and  zinc,  are  not  a  demonstration  that  these  metals 
were  introduced  at  the  time  the  sediments  were  laid  down. 
The  samples  of  limestone  analyzed  may  be  from  a  locality 
distant  from  any  known  ore  body,  and  the  rock  may  con- 
tain no  particles  of  galena  or  blende  of  sufficient  size  to  be 
detected  with  the  naked  eye  or  with  a  hand  lens,  yet  these 
specimens  may  contain  lead  and  zinc  introduced  since  the 
rock  was  formed. 

Neither  the  size  of  the  lead  or  zinc  individuals  nor  the 
locality  from  which  the  specimens  are  collected  can  be  used 
as  evidence  that  the  zinc  blende  or  galena  were  original  con- 
stituents of  the  country  rock  in  which  the  ore  bodies  now 
occur. 

Galena  and  zinc  blende  occur  everywhere  throughout 
the  Mississippian  and  Cambro-Ordovician  series  in  Missouri, 
although  there  are  comparatively  few  areas  in  which  these 
minerals  appear  to  have  been  sufficiently  concentrated  to 
constitute  workable  ore  bodies.  If  one  were  to  have  before 
him  a  map  of  the  Cambro-Ordovician  and  Mississippian  of 
Missouri,  upon  which  were  located  all  mines  and  prospects 
from  wluch  galena  and  zinc  blende  have  been  obtained,  he 
would  certainly  doubt  very  much  the  ability  of  any  one  to 
select  samples  which  he  could  state  positively  contained 
galena  or  blende  which  were  deposited  at  the  time  the  sedi- 
ments were  laid  down  in  the  ocean. 

Under  certain  conditions  the  stream  waters  entering 
the  ocean  during  any  of  the  geological  periods  might  have 
carried  lead  and  zinc  in  solution.  Given  proper  conditions 
for  the  reduction  and  precipil  ation  of  these  metallic  salts, 
the  sediments  being  laid  down  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean 
into  which  these  waters  flowed  would  certainly  contain 
minute  quantities  of  lead  and  zinc. 

In  the  geological  history  of  this  state  we  find  no  condi- 
tions more  favorable  to  the  deposition  of  the  metallic  salts 
contained  in  the  ocean  than  those  which  existed  during  the 
Pennsylvania^  period.  Everywhere  there  must  have  been 
conditions  simulating  those  by  virtue  of  which  these  metals 
are  now  being  concentrated  within  the  Mississippian  forma- 
tion. The  occurrence  of  galena,  blende,  pyrite  and  narcasite 
—the  latter  two  in  great  quantities — within  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian,  in  many  parts  of  the  state,  is  strong  evidence  that 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OP    MISSOURI  291 

the  metals  were  thrown  down  abundantly  in  some  portions 
of  the  Pennsylvania!!  sea.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  pyrite 
is  most  abundant  in  the  coal  and  shale  where  they  occur 
near  what  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  shore  line.  It  is 
more  than  probable  that  the  oxidizing  waters  from  the  lantf 
area,  at  that  time,  precipitated  the  metallic  salts,  which 
they  had  gathered  in  their  journey,  before  traveling  very 
far  from  the  shore.  This  would  tend  to  localize,  within  the 
Pennsylvanian,  the  original  deposits.  Later,  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania sea,  when  the  reducing  conditions  became  mor^ 
general  or  the  land  area  was  completely  submerged,  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  metallic  salts  would  become  more  general, 
and  when  the  source  of  supply  was  cut  off  their  introduction 
would  cease. 

We  do  not  presume  to  point  out  the  original  source  of 
the  lead  and  zinc  in  the  oceanic  waters  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
era,  although  it  appears  highly  probable  that  the  crystal- 
line rocks,  the  Mississippian,  Devonian,  Silurian  and  the 
Cambro-Ordovician  have  all  contributed  in  so  far  as  they 
supplied  sediments  to  the  then  existing  ocean.  As  pointed 
out  by  Van  Hise,  Winslow  and  others,  were  we  to  traco 
these  metallic  minerals  to  their  ultimate  source,  we  woulu 
find  them  to  have  originated  in  the  igneous  rocks.  From 
the  time  these  metals  were  abstracted  from  the  igneous 
rocks  to  the  time  they  were  held  in  solution  by  the  waters 
of  the  Pennsylvanian  sea,  they  may  have  been  several  times, 
in  part,  at  least,  precipitated  with  the  oceanic  sediments 
and  re-dissolved  with  the  weathering  of  the  land  surface. 
If  one  should  judge  the  opinions  held  by  others  from  their 
published  reports,  he  would  be  led  to  infer  that  the  Cambro- 
Ordovician  sea  was  the  last  great  receiver  of  the  lead  and 
zinc  minerals  brought  from  the  land  by  streams.  This  does 
not  seem  reasonable  since  we  know  that  the  Mississippi 
river  is  now  carrying  and  depositing  lead  and  zinc  with  the 
sediments  being  deposited  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  it  is  known  that  younger  formations  supplied 
equally  as  favorable,  and  sometimes  more  favorable  con- 
ditions for  precipitation  of  metallic  salts  from  the  oceanic 
waters. 

If  .002  of  one  per  cent,  of  zinc  and  lead  deposited  from 
the  waters  of  the  Cambro-Ordovician  sea  is  considered  suf- 
ficient to  account  for  the  lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  the  Ozark 
region,  very  much  less  will  be  required  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian, since,  through  the  almost  complete  removal  of  the 
beds  of  this  series  from  the  area  in  which  the  ore  bodies  oc- 
cur, all  the  lead  and  zinc  which  they  at  one  time  contained 


292  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING   CONGRESS 

must  have  been  transferred  to  other  places.  In  the  case  of 
the  Cambro-Ordovician,  these  series  have  only  been  partly 
removed  and  the  greater  part  of  this  was  accomplished  by 
the  streams  which  contributed  sediments  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian sea,  On  the  other  hand,  the  extremely  favorable 
conditions  for  precipitation  in  the  Pennsylvanian  sea  would 
lead  one  to  suppose  that  the  probability  of  a  localization  or 
concentration  of  the  original  precipitates  would  be  many 
times  greater  than  in  the  Cambro-Ordovician  sea. 

In  a  consideration  of  the  formation  of  the  workable  de- 
posits of  lead  and  zinc  ore,  the  starting  point  must  be  the 
last  time  the  lead  and  zinci  was  held  in  solution  by  the 
waters  of  the  ocean.  In  the  case  of  the  Southwestern  Ozark 
district,  it  is  thought  to  have  been  the  Pennsylvanian  sea. 
We  believe  that  the  concentration  from  this  formation  into 
the  Mississippian  has  resulted  from  solution  and  redeposi- 
tion,  as  a  result  of  weathering,  in  a  manner  somewhat  anal- 
agous  to  the  concentration  of  minerals  by  the  mechanical 
process. 

Not  only  has  there  been  a  concentration  of  the  lead  and 
zinc,  but  as  striking,  also,  has  been  the  concentration  of 
silica,  dolomite,  calcite  and  pyrite.  Evidently,  in  all  cases, 
there  has  been  a  gradual  movement  of  these  minerals,  in- 
cluding the  lead  and  zinc  minerals,  downward,  pari-passu 
with  the  degradation  of  the  land.  That  this  movement  is 
still  in  progress  is  shown  by  the  growth  of  lead  and  zinc 
minerals  in  mines  that  have  been  abandoned  and  flooded 
with  water.  Instances  of  this  have  been  recited  in  the  re- 
ports of  the  Missouri  Bureau  of  Geology  and  Mines. 

It  must  be  constantly  borne  in  mind  that  any  lead  or 
zinc  contained  in  a  formation  which  is  being  decomposed 
and  removed  from  the  surface,  will  be  disposed  of  eventu- 
ally in  two  ways,  (1)  by  removal  in  streams  to  the  ocean  or 
(2)  by  removal  to  greater  depths  and  redeposited,  in  local- 
ities favorable  to  the  reduction  of  these  salts,  within  the 
underlying  formations.  The  percentage  of  the  metals  which 
are  disposed  of  by  re-concentration  below  the  zone  where 
abstraction  by  solution  is  going  on  will  depend  upon  the 
extent  of  the  reducing  conditions  between  the  point  where 
the  waters  leave  the  zone  of  oxidation  and  where  they  issue 
from  the  ground  again  in  the  form  of  springs. 

In  the  district  under  consideration  the  percentage  re- 
moved by  surface  streams  must  be  relatively  small  owing  to 
the  persistence  in  depth  of  the  bituminous  and  asphaltic 
materials  in  many  of  the  openings  of  the  "breccias,"  joints, 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OF    MISSOURI  293 

bedding  planes  and    solution    cavities,    along    which  the 
ground  waters  travel. 

The  entire  process  of  ore  deposition  in  this  district  has 
been  one  of  enrichment,  below;  the  level  of  ground  water, 
brought  about  through  the  migration  of  the  materials  down- 
ward. The  process  has  been  one  of  constant  but  interrupted 
concentration,  the  interruptions  probably  being  due  to 
changes  in  the  level  of  the  ground  waters  resulting  from 
successive  periods  of  elevation  and  subsidence.  In  this  our 
conclusions  agree,  essentially,  with  those  which  Mr.  W.  P. 
Blake,  announced  for  the  origin  of  the  Wisconsin  lead  and 
zinc  deposits.  He  says:  "The  evidence  is  strongly  in  favor 
of  the  view  of  the  long  continued  decomposition,  downward 
flow  and  recomposition  of  not  only  the  ores  of  zinc,  but  lead 
and  of  the  pyrite  from  the  upper  formations  to  the  lower, 
as  the  general  water  level  of  the  region  subsided  and  as 
the  upper  formations  by  long  continued  exposure  through 
geologic  ages  were  gradually  decomposed  in  place." 

Above  the  level  of  the  ground  water,  and  in  many  cases 
far  below,  a  process  of  abstraction  is  going  on,  as  a  result 
of  which  the  sulphide  minerals  are,  in  part,  taken  into  solu- 
tion and  in  part  altered  to  the  carbonate  and  silicate.  The 
carbonate  and  silicate  are  in  many  places  precipitated  as 
such  from  the  underground  waters,  replacing  the  limestone 
and  calcite  crystals  forming  stalactites  in  caves  and  caverns, 
and  lining  small  openings  within  the  flint.  Casts  of  crinoids 
and  brachiopods  lined  with  rosettes  of  calamine  are  fre- 
quently observed. 

It  is  noticeable  that  the  removal  of  the  sulphides,  car- 
bonates and  silicates  from  the  zone  of  weathering  to  deeper 
levels  has  in  many  places  lagged  behind  the  surface 
weathering.  Especially  is  this  true  of  the  galena  and  car- 
bonate minerals,  which,  in  the  Aurora,  Granby  and  other 
areas,  have  been  found  in  their  greatest  richness  near  the 
surface,  often  at  the  "grass  roots." 

As  an  example  of  the  depth  at  which  the  galena  occurs 
with  respect  to  the  zinc  blende,  it  may  be  cited  that  at  least 
three-fourths  of  the  galena  mined  in  the  Granby  area  has 
been  obtained  within  sixty  or  seventy  feet  of  the  surface, 
while  most  of  the  zinc  blende  occurs  below  this  depth,  down 
to  200  feet.  This  in  itself,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Mis- 
sissippian  has  been  eroded  very  little  since  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  strata  were  laid  down,  is  evidence  that  there  has 
been  very  little  of  the  so-called  secondary  concentration  of 
the  galena,  It  also  shows  that  such  as  has  been  secondarily 
concentrated  has  not  traveled  very  far.  Runs  of  galena  are 


294  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

sometimes  found  below  blende,  although  the  history  of  the 
district  shows  that  the  greatest. deposits  of  blende  are  in 
the  deeper  workings,  while  the  richest  galena  horizon  is 
near  the  surface.  This  condition  may  be  due  in  part  to  the 
greater  stability  of  the  lead  ores  within  the  zone  of  weather- 
ing, but  chiefly,  we  believe,  to  the  fact  that  it  was  the  chief 
horizon  of  the  early  concentration  of  the  galena  from  the 
convergent  downward  circulation. 

The  foregoing  brief  discussion  of  the  origin  of  the  lead 
and  zinc  ores  is  believed  to  be  applicable  to  those  deposits 
occurring  in  the  Mississippian  limestone,  and  would  include 
the  areas  in  Jasper,  Newton  and  Lawrence  counties,  Mis- 
souri; the  Quapaw  and  Miami  areas  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
and  the  Galena-Empire  camp  in  Kansas. 

The  Chemistry  of  the  deposition  of  the  ores  of  this  dis- 
trict may  be  found  in  the  report  of  the  Missouri  Bureau  of 
Geology  and  Mines  on  "The  Geology  of  the  Granby  Area." 
Space  does  not  permit  including  it  in  this  brief  summary. 

Estimates  of  Costs  of  Mining  Operations  in  the  JopUn  District. 

During  the  last  few  years  our  office  has  had  many  In- 
quiries as  to  the  cost  of  mining  in  the  Joplin  district,  but 
owing  to  various  circumstances  we  have  never  been  in  posi- 
tion to  give  very  satisfactory  answers  to  such  questions. 

Owing  to  the  great  diversity  in  physical  conditions, 
equipment  and  efficiency  of  management,  there  Is  a  wide 
range  in  the  cost  of  operating  mines  and  mills.  In  some  in- 
stances the  rock  is  hard,  in  others  it  is  soft.  In  some  local- 
ities there  is  a  heavy  flow  of  underground  water,  in  others 
the  flow  is  very  light.  In  some  places  the  ore  is  close  to  the 
surface,  in  others  it  is  deep.  Some  mines  require  consider- 
able timbering,  both  in  the  shaft  and  in  the  workings,  others 
require  practically  none.  Some  mines  can  be  operated  most 
successfully  with  a  mill  of  large  capacity,  others  with  a  mill 
of  small  capacity.  Some  have  efficient  management,  in 
others  the  management  is  inefficient.  Thus  it  may  be  seen 
that  the  various  elements  entering  into  any  estimates  of  cost 
may  cause  them  to  vary  widely. 

With  a  full  realization  that  any  general  estimate  of 
costs  in  this  district  may  be  misleading,  I  am  submitting  the 
following  table  in  which  the  estimates  are  remarkable  for 
their  uniformity.  These  estimates  have  been  made  by 
men  of  broad  experience  in  mining  in  the  Joplin  district  and 
if  used  with  judgment,  ought  to  furnish  a  very  valuable 
guide  to  those  who  are  unfamiliar  with  the  costs  of  mining 
in  this  region. 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OF    MISSOURI  295 

Estimates  of  Costs  in  Mining  Operations  of  Joplin  District. 


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1        $10-$25               $2.00                 $15,000 

3         80 

90c 

.$12.00 

$9,000 

2          $5-$30 

to 

3  to  6      80 

90c 

$10,000 

5x7 

shaft 

3     About  $10          $1.50          $3.000      $12,000 

4         98   90c  to  $1.00 

$5.00 

4  Average  $10 

$2,000      $10,000 

5         80 

85c  to  90c 

$8.00 

5             $18                $1.50          $2,000      $12,000 

4         57 

SOc 

$20.00 

$8,000 

6              $12                 $1.00          $800                to 

3         90 

90c 

$8.00 

$20,000 

$8,000 

90c 

7      $12  to  $22 

$1,000            to 

3 

50c 

$10.00 

$9,000 

by  owner 

$400- 

8         $5  to  $40 

$4,000        $8,000 

4               SOc  to  $1.00 

$4.00 

9      $10  to  $20           $2.00          $2,500      $12,000 

3  up        68 

$1,00 

$10.00 

10  $10  hard  and 
dry     $15 

to  $40  hard     5x7  shaft 
and  wet         $2.50  to  $5.00 

11  $5.00  in  dry 
shale, 

$12.50  in  dry       $5.00 
limestone        for  drifts 


$12,000 


$1,100        $9,000        2.6 


70c-80c 
75     by  owner    $4.00  to  $6.00 


40cto  60c   $3.00  with 

compressed 
7?     by  owner  air  furnished 


In  reviewing  the  above  table,  attention  should  be  di- 
rected to  the  several  estimates  in  particular.  The  average 
cost  of  sinking  a  shaft  5x7  feet  is  given  as  a  little  over  f  15. 
However,  it  is  thought  that  if  one  were  to  secure  informa- 
tion covering  the  cost  of  sinking  shafts  in  which  correct 
methods  were  employed,  he  would  find  that  the  cost  has  not 
exceeded  f  10  per  foot  in  hard  ground.  In  loose  ground  with 
a  heavy  flow  of  water,  the  cost  may  reach  as  high  as  |40 
per  foot.  There  are  shafts  in  the  district  in  the  sinking  of 


296  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

which  labor  has  cost  only  f  1.50  a  foot  to  a  depth  of  75  feet. 
Others  140  feet  or  more  in  depth  have  cost  up  to  $70  per 
foot.  These  are  probably  4ue  chiefly  to  mismanagement  or 
accident. 

The  cost  of  timbering  a  shaft  is  usually  included  in  the 
cost  of  sinking.  Under  ordinary  conditions  the  cost  does 
not  exceed  $2  per  foot.  The  variations  in  the  character  of 
the  ground  passed  through  controls  the  costs.  Sometimes 
a  set  every  six  feet  is  sufficient,  and  then  again  one  has  to 
drive  piling  ahead,  lag  the  sides  and  insert  the  sets  much 
closer. 

The  cost  of  equipping  a  shaft  is  usually  included  in  that 
of  the  erection  of  the  mill.  At  least  the  two  are  usually  so 
dovetailed  as  to  make  an  estimate  of  either  considerable  of 
an  approximation.  The  equipment  of  a  shaft  often  passes 
through  various  evolutionary  stages  from  a  simple  hand 
hoist  to  a  steam  hoist  with  standard  head  frame,  etc.  The 
size  of  buckets,  cable,  cars,  etc.,  also  influence  the  cost.  The 
estimates  given  in  the  table  represent  the  cost  of  equipping 
a  mine  of  a  size  sufficient  to  operate  a  100  or  200-ton  mill. 
Fromi  these  estimates  one  would  conclude  that  the  average 
equipment  costs  about  $2,500. 

The  cost  of  erecting  a  100-ton  mill  complete  with  power 
plant  (Joplin  type),  depends  somewhat  upon  the  character 
of  the  ore  to  be  broken.  If  it  is  hard  the  power  plant  will 
need  to  be  of  greater  capacity  than  if  it  is  soft.  The  source 
of  supply  of  water  will  also  effect  the  cost.  If  a  pond  is  re- 
quired as  a  reservoir,  this  will  be  an  added  expense.  There 
are  other  factors  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  mention  here. 
The  estimates  given  in  the  table  illustrate  the  effects  of 
these  varying  conditions,  upon  the  cost.  It  is  thought  that 
$9,000  will  represent  the  average  cost  of  a  new,  modern 
100-ton  mill  complete.  Good  second-hand  mills  can  usually 
be  purchased  at  a  cost  of  from  $2,000  to  $3,000.  Such  a  mill 
may  be  moved  and  put  into  satisfactory  operation,  by  con- 
tract, for  $1,500.  This  makes  the  cost  of  a  second-hand  mill 
$3,500  to  $4,500. 

The  estimates  of  the  percentage  of  mineral  (zinc 
blende),  which  an  ore  must  carry  in  order  to  be  worked 
profitably,  while  paying  a  royalty  of  15  per  cent., 
are  very  close.  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  however, 
that  in  most  cases  this  refers  to  percentage  of 
blende  obtained  from  the  ore.  There  are  very  few 
operators  in  the  district  who  know  the  percentage 
of  zinc  blende  in  the  ore  as  it  comes  from  their  mines. 
They  do  not  consider  the  losses  in  milling  sufficient  to  wai- 


LEAD    AND    ZINC    RESOURCES    OF    MISSOURI  297 

rant  the  installation  of  a  sampler  to  check  the  work  of  the 
mill.  The  companies  know  approximately  the  number  ot 
tons  of  ore  hoisted  and  the  number  of  tons  of  concentrates 
obtained  therefrom.  From  these"  they  make  an  estimate  of 
the  amount  of  blende  carried  by  the  ore.  The  highest  esti- 
mate is  5  per  cent.,  and  it  is  thought  that  this  is  in  some  in- 
stances too  high,  although  as  an  average  it  is  closer  than  3 
per  cent.  I  have  in  mind  a  property  which  in  April,  1906, 
extracting  as  low  as  2.37  per  cent,  mineral  (184,660  Ibs.  of 
zinc  blende  at  $41.25  per  ton  and  36,070  Ibs.  of  galena  at 
$74.10  per  ton),  and  paying  a  15  per  cent,  royalty,  made  a 
net  profit  of  $264.  Many  of  the  richer  mines  of  the  district 
pay  royalties  of  from  20  to  25  per  cent.,  in  which  cases  the 
percentage  of  zinc  blende  in  the  ore  must  be  considerably 
greater,  perhaps  as  high  as.  8  or  10  per  cent. 

I  believe  that  it  is  a  safe  proposition  to  say  that,  under 
present  conditions,  an  ore  body  of  ordinary  size  and  under 
normal  conditions  must  contain  at  least  3  per  cent,  of  zinc 
blende  to  be  worked  at  a  profit  and  pay  a  royalty  of  15  per 
cent.,  with  60  per  cent,  zinc  at  $45  and  lead  at  $80  j^er  ton. 

The  percentage  of  extraction  by  the  Joplin  type  of  inill 
has  never  received  the  attention  in  this  district  which  it  de- 
serves. Very  few  operators  determine  the  percentage  of 
zinc  blende  that  leaves  the  mill  for  the  tailing  pile.  How- 
ever, it  is  commonly  known  that  the  "tailing  mill"  and 
sludge  mill  operators  obtain  a  good  revenue  from  re- work- 
ing the  chat  piles  and  sludge.  Many  of  the  tailing  piles 
worked  over  by  these  mills,  contain  from  2  to  3  per  cent,  of 
zinc  blende.  Assays  of  some  tailings  in  very  good  practice 
have  shown  1.85  per  cent,  zinc  blende.  Basing  our  estimate 
upon  the  quantity  of  zinc  blende  extracted  by  the  mill  and 
upon. the  percentage  shown  by  analyses  to  be  in  the  tailings, 
ii  is  thought  that  60  to  70  per  cent  is  a  fair  estimate. 

There  is  very  little  difference  in  the  cost  of  churn  drill- 
ing, the  prices  ranging  from  80  cents  to  $1  by  contract.  In 
case  a  company  desires  to  operate  its  own  drills,  the  cost  of 
200-foot  holes  ought  not  to  exceed  50  cents  per  foot,  as  an 
average. 

The  cost  of  cutting  a  drift  6x8  feet  in  hard  ground  will 
vary  with  the  amount  of  water  to  handle,  the  facilities  for 
disposing  of  the  waste  and  numerous  other  conditions.  The 
average  may,  perhaps,  be  taken  as  $10. 


Annual  Address  of  the  President 


BY  HON.  JOHN  H.  RICHARDS,  BOISE,  IDAHO. 

My  Friends: — Missouri  is  always  producing  something 
good,  judging  from  what  was  told  us  last  evening.  It  not 
only  produced  the  men  we  heard  speak  here  last  night,  but, 
it  has  also  given  us  Dr.  Buckley.  (Applause.)  He  has  been 
one  of  the  most  energetic  and  untiring  workers  for  this 
Congress.  It  has  been  largely  due  to  his  sacrifices  for 
years,  his  careful  interest  in  this  work,  and  his  compre- 
hensive grasp  of  its  meaning  expressed  in  the  by-laws  and 
articles  of  incorporation,  in  the  preparation  of  which  he 
had  a  large  part,  that  the  future  work  of  this  Congress  has 
been  so  clearly  defined.  Therefore,  we  feel  that  wre  are 
under  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Missouri  for  having  given  us 
Dr.  Buckley. 

This  occasion  as  I  understand  it,  is  purely  a  business 
one.  The  thoughts  I  desire  to  suggest  for  your  considera- 
tion tonight  are  to  call  your  attention  to  the  work  of  the 
Congress,  its  aims  and  purposes.  We  feel  that  we  have 
made  some  progress.  I  am  sure  we  have  the  most  self-sac- 
rificing board  of  directors  of  any  class  of  men  with  whom 
I  have  ever  come  in  contact.  They  are  so  self-sacrificing 
and  generous  that  they  are  willing  to  do  all  the  work  and 
give  me  all  the  credit.  A  gentleman  from  Texas  asked 
me,  "How  is  it  that  you  have  taken  hold  of  this  organiza- 
tion and  brought  order  out  of  chaos  so  that  it  is  now  doing 
its  work  so  smoothly?"  I  replied,  "Because  I  have  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  gather  around  me  men  who  are  willing  to 
do  things  and  let  me  stand  still  and  look  wise." 

I  want  to  say  to  you  that  it  is  the  mining  of  this 
country  that  makes  it  possible  to  have  a  great  agri- 
cultural country  and  set  the  wheels  of  civilization 
and  progress  in  motion.  We  should  not  attempt  to 
separate  these  two  great  forces  of  agriculture  and  mining. 
When  you  see  these  great  deposits  of  coal  that  are  capable 
of  producing  millions  of  tons  per  annum,  such  as  you 
have  in  this  Middle  West;  when  you  see  the  direc- 
tion given  to  multutudes  of  men  and  the  instru- 
mentalities by  which  this  production  can  be  made  and 
direct  the  mighty  transportation  forces,  you  must  real- 
ize that  these  things  take  men.  These  men  come 
from  the  mining  sections  of  the  world.  (Applause.) 
Do  not  misunderstand  me,  I  do  not  want  to  belittle  any 


ANNUAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE  PRESIDENT        299 

industry;  but,  if  you  take  from  the  great  active  forces 
of  this  nation  today,  the  great  iron  industry  that  makes 
your  transportation  lines  possible,  makes  possible  the 
great  manufacturing  of  this  country,  and  take  from  it 
also  the  coal  that  impels  our  nation's  mechanical  activities, 
and  take  from  it  also  the  great  mental  capacity,  including 
the  comprehensive  grasp  of  the  present  and  future,  and 
what  have  you  left  in  this  country  that  makes  for  progress 
and  the  higher  civilization? 

You  must  be  aware  that  these  great  active  forces  come 
from  the  mining  sections  of  the  country,  and  they  are  forces 
that  should  be  considered  in  giving  direction  to  our  nation's 
progress,  but  when  I  go  down  to  your  National  Capital,  as 
I  did  last  week,  on, a  tour  of  investigation  I  do  not  find  a 
single  bureau  or  department  in  the  great  government  at 
Washington  by  which  the  mining  industry  is  recognized  as 
an  industry  in  this  country.  I  think  it  is  about  time  that 
the  mining  men  of  our  nation  spoke  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  at  the  Capital  at  Washington.  (Applause.) 

The  mining  men  are  interested  in  the  great  forests  of 
this  country,  and  if  the  things  had  been  done  fifty  years 
ago  in  relation  to  our  forests  that  we  are  undertaking  to 
do  today,  and  if  the  things  that  we  are  undertaking  to  do 
today  in  relation  to  our  great  coal  deposits  had  been  done 
fifty  years  ago  to  protect  them  in  the  interests  of  the  gen- 
eral welfare,  the  blight  of  corruption  and  dishonor  would 
not  have  rested  on  the  fair  name  of  this  government  as  it 
has  been  uncovered  in  the  land  fraud  scandals  of  the  West. 
This  is  true,  because  in  that  event  the  government  would 
have  looked  far  enough  ahead  to  have  cared  for  these  things 
in  the  interests  of  the  general  welfare,  the  purpose  for 
which  our  government  was  organized. 

To  place  before  you  the  work  of  this  Congress  and  what 
it  is  trying  to  do,  the  board  of  directors  have  instructed  me 
to  call  your  attention  to  the  plan  of  organization  and  what 
we  are  trying  to  accomplish  through  this  organization. 
The  basis  of  it  all  is  intelligent  co-operation.  I  have  discov- 
ered during  the  years  I  have  been  in  the  West,  that  no  man 
can  live  to  himself  alone  and  develop  into  a  true  manhood. 
We  must  to  a  certain  extent,  be  our  brother's  keeper.  We 
must  learn  this  great  lesson  in  all  the  great  undertakings 
of  life,  if  we  would  truly  progress.  If  a  man  lives  to  him- 
self alone,  he  is  the  man  that  believes  that  only  the  dol- 
lar is  necessary  to  make  him  a  great  man.  I  tell  you  that 
when  you  feel  the  experience  of  being  even  a  little  bit  un- 
selfish and  look  to  the  needs  of  your  neighbor  so  as  to  reach 


300  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

the  great  heart  of  humanity,  you  will  find  that  there  is  a 
higher  view  than  the  possession  of  mere  dollars. 

On  this  basis  we  come  here  to  ask  that  you  encourage 
this  work  of  intelligent  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  country.  We  do  not  believe  that  we  should  go 
to  the  extremes  to  promote  any  one  industry,  but  that  as 
a  great  people  we  should  promote  all  as  a  harmonious 
whole.  We  first  need  intelligent  co-operation  among  indi- 
viduals. You  must  realize  that  no  individual  can  success- 
fully perform  all  of  the  steps  in  the  manufacture  of  his 
own  shoes.  Suppose  every  individual  undertook  to  do  that, 
what  kind  of  a  country  would  this  be?  That  is  not  intelli- 
gent co-operation.  No  individual  can  successfully  !and 
properly  perform  all  the  steps  in  converting  the  raw  ma- 
terial into  the  clothes  he  wears.  It  needs  co-operation  on 
the  part  of  individuals,  if  we  would  bring  out  of  those  in- 
dividuals the  higher  qualities  which  would  enable  them  to 
achieve.  It  is  only  through  intelligent  co-operation  that 
we  can  truly  progress;  it  can  never  be  done  through  indi- 
vidual selfishness.  The  miser  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the 
individual  who  undertakes  to  live  to  himself  alone,  and 
yet,  as  you  and  I  see  him  there  is  no  beggar  that  walks  the 
street  that  is  so  poor  as  a  man  who  has  nothing  but  money. 
(Applause.)  Under  this  idea  communities  must  likewise 
co-operate. 

In  talking  with  some  of  your  great  coal  operators  in 
the  cities  of  Chicago,  Springfield,  Indianapolis  and  Pitts- 
burg  recently  about  their  joining  us  in  this  co-operation, 
they  wanted 'to  know  where  this  organization  originated 
and  what  was  its  fundamental  idea.  I  replied  that  it  origi- 
nated in  the  West,  and  its  fundamental  idea  was  largely 
educational.  They  looked  at  me  in  apparent  amazement, 
as  if  wondering  how  any  good  thing  could  come  out  of 
Nazareth.  I  am  sure  many  good  things  are  coming  out  of  the 
the  West,  and  the  East  wrill  secure  a  blessing  by  understand- 
ing them.  Don't  you  know  that  many  of  your  brightest, 
keenest,  most  progressive  young  men  go  to  the  West,  and 
they  are  the  men  that  make  the  West  what  it  is  today.  Out 
there  we  get  closer  to  nature  than  we  do  to  the  dollar,  and 
our  hearts  expand  when  we  come  in  contact  with  those 
great  mountains,  those  great  canyons,  and  those  great  val- 
leys, and  we  come  back  to  the  East  to  try  to  impress  upon 
the  men  of  these  great  prairies  that  co-operation  with  the 
West  will  help  develop  this  entire  country  and  its  man- 
hood. 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  301 

We  also  need  co-operation  between  the  states.  No 
state  can  live  to  itself  alone  in  this  country  under  our  form 
of  government.  They  must  co-operate.  Is  it  not  perfectly 
clear  that  if  one  community  can  raise  potatoes  to  niuch  bet- 
ter advantage  than  another,  and  another  community  can 
raise  grain  or  cotton  to  much  better  advantage  than  an- 
other, that  it  is  better  for  each  community  to  raise  those 
things  best  adapted  to  its  conditions  and  which  can  be  pro- 
duced most  profitably,  and  then  to  interchange  these  com- 
modities, and  this  interchange  makes  commerce  and  both 
communities  are  blessed,  and  that  is  my  idea  of  commerce. 
True  commerce  is  that  interchange  which  benefits  both 
the  seller  and  the  buyer.  It  is  not  commerce  when  it  blesses 
one  only.  So  I  say  tjiese  states  must  co-operate.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  the  states,  the  individual  and  the  community 
must  co-operate  with  the  Federal  Government. 

I  undertake  to  say  that  in  the  hour  of  our  nation's 
birth,  when  we  said:  "We,  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union"  (and  let  me  impress 
you  with  the  thought  that  there  is  no  union  that  is  endur- 
ing except  a  union  for  good),  "and  to  establish  justice,"  I 
think  we  realize  today  that  this  the  great  cry  of  the  nation 
at  this  hour — that  we  may  establish  justice — simple  ordi- 
nary justice.  This  would  promote  the  general  welfare.  We 
also  formed  this  country  "to  provide  for  the  common  de- 
fense, insure  domestic  tranquillity,  and  secure  the  blessings 
of  liberty.77  This  was  all  done  for  the  general  welfare.  In 
the  light  of  these  things  the  sentiment  that  "private  inter- 
ests77 are  too  sacred  to  be  regulated  by  law  in  the  interests 
of  the  general  welfare,  is  not  wholesome. 

There  is  no  band  of  men  in  this  country  that  are  so  anx- 
ious that  capital  should  prosper,  that  men  should  make 
money  from  their  business  ventures,  as  the  members  of  this 
Congress,  and  we  also  want  to  give  the  other  fellow  a 
chance.  In  other  words,  we  want  all  to  stand  equal  before 
the  law  and  have  an  equal  opportunity  under  the  law. 
(Applause.)  Therefore,  we  want  this  great  government  to  co- 
operate with  us  as  they  are  co-operating  with  agriculture. 

We  believe  that  if  our  government  had  co-operated  with 
the  West  and  planted  upon  their  books  years  ago,  statutes 
adapted  to  the  conditions  to  which  they  were  intended  to 
apply,  there  would  not  have  arisen  the  great  questions  of 
land  frauds  and  the  prosecution  of  United  States  Senators 
and  that  sort  of  thing  in  the  West,  that  is  going  on  today. 
They  undertook  to  apply  to  that  country  the  same  laws  that 
applied  to  Ohio  and  Indiana  and  this  country  here.  They 


302  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

did  not  meet  Western  conditions.  It  is  because  we  have 
not  co-operated  intelligently  that  these  things  have  arisen. 
A  statute  should  be  the  highest  formal  expression  of  the 
wisdom  of  a  great  people,  and  it  should  always  be  inter- 
preted in  the  light  of  the  conditions  to  which  it  was  in- 
tended to  apply.  Necessity  must  be  the  basis  of  all  law. 
But  we  find  vast  tracts  of  timber  land,  the  most  marvelous 
timber  that  the  earth  has  produced,  passing  into  the  hands 
of  the  few,  contrary  to  law.  The  laws  are  not  of  a  char- 
acter that  would  permit  a  corporation  with  plenty  of  capi- 
tal to  acquire  sufficient  timber  honestly  to  justify  large  ex- 
penditure, to  meet  even  local  needs.  The  same  is  true  of 
our  coal  lands.  Why  should  not  the  law  permit  a  company 
which  has  sufficient  means  to  develop  a  coal  mine  on  a 
scale  to  meet  the  conditions  surrounding  that  coal  section, 
to  secure  that  coal  honestly?  As  the  law  will  not  permit 
this,  they  have  undertaken  to  get  it  in  some  other  way, 
and  they  have  gotten  it  to  the  dishonor  of  our  country.  It 
is  conditions  that  produce  these  results,  and  not  the  dis- 
honesty of  the  men  at  heart. 

I  undertake  to  say  that  if  the  present  forestry  policy 
had  been  put  into  operation  twenty-five  or  fifty  years  ago, 
that  the  general  welfare  of  the  West  would  -have  been 
vastly  promoted.  The  conditions  there  are  such  that  we  get 
our  water  supply  through  the  great  storage  of  banks  of 
snow  in  those  forests  on  the  mountain  sides  and  in  the 
canyons,  which  melts  out  gently  in  the  summer,  and 
through  the  co-operation  of  communities  the  highest  form 
of  agriculture  is  promoted.  They  are  using  those  great 
mountain  lakes  as  reservoirs  for  power  to  help  lift  a  part 
of  the  burden  of  toil  from  the  shoulders  of  men;  they  are 
using  those  rapid  flowing  mountain  streams  as  a  means 
of  bringing  the  resurrection  morn  to  the  parched  lips  of  the 
valleys  and  the  withered  breasts  of  the  plains  that  lie  be- 
neath them.  While  they  own  these  water  rights  jointly, 
they  are  yet  held  in  severally  so  far  as  their  application  to 
the  land  is  concerned.  A  man  cannot  under  the  conditions 
there  existing  look  out  for  his  own  interests,  without  at 
the  same  time  caring  for  the  interests  of  his  neighbor. 
They  must  work  together.  In  this  way  they  are  producing 
better  men  and  better  results  and  better  conditions  than 
they  produced  under  the  old  individual,  selfish  system.  These 
Western  men  are  not  dishonest  at  heart,  but  they  come 
West  from  this  great  East  to  do  things,  and  they  are  going 
to  do  them  in  some  way,  and  they  do  it. 


ANNUAL,    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  303 

Now,  there  is  a  mighty  waste  going  on  in  our  coal  mines, 
in  our  fuel,  and  this  should  be  stopped.  The  Government 
should  co-operate  with  the  miner  so  that  there  may  not 
be  that  mighty  waste.  The  fuel  question  should  be  care- 
fully studied,  analyzed  and  understood,  so  as  to  get  the 
best  results  from  it.  Who  can  do  that  better  than  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  just  as  they  are  doing  it  for 
the  farmer.  Why  not?  The  mining  industry  of  this  coun- 
try today  produces  in  raw  material  about  two  billions  of 
dollars,  but  when  you  add  to  that  the  articles  manu- 
factured from  that  raw  material,  mining  stands  on  an 
equality  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  country. 

Individuals  in  this  country  seem  to  think  that  when 
they  have  acquired  title  to  those  great  natural  bodies,  such 
as  coal  deposits,  given  to  the  American  people  by  nature, 
that  they  own  them  absolutely  and  have  the  right  to  waste 
them.     That  proposition  the  American   Mining  Congress 
denies.    We  do  not  believe  that  any  man  has  the  right  to  ac- 
quire those  great  forests  given  by  nature  to  the  people  of 
this  country  and  waste  them.    (Applause.)    We  do  not  be- 
lieve that  any  individual  or  any  corporation  even  after  ac- 
quiring legal  title  to  great  coal  beds,   has  any  right  to 
waste  those  deposits.     There  is  an  element  even  in  spite 
of  this  legal  title  that  belongs  to  the  American  people,  and 
that  is  that  these  deposits  shall  be  wisely  used  and  wisely 
conserved  for  the  future.    These  deposits  lay  at  the  feet  of 
the  red  man  for  ages,  wholly  useless  to  him,  because  he  did 
not  have  the  intelligence  to  use  them.    But  the  white  man 
came  and  is  making  better  use  of  them.    The  use  of  these 
bounties  should  be  governed  by  intelligence,  and  not  by 
ignorance.     No  man  has  a  right    to    waste    the    natural 
wealth  that  has  been  given  humanity  by  nature  for  the 
general  welfare.     I  believe  there  is  an  equality  in  all  na- 
ture's bounties  which  belongs  to  the  American  people,  and 
that  is  that  every  man  shall  use  those  things  so  that  it  will 
bring  out  of  them  the  greatest  good  to  the  American  peo- 
ple as  well  as  to  the  individual,  but  he  has  no  right  to  waste 
them.  Wastefulness  in  business  does  not  make  a  good  busi- 
ness man.     But  to  learn  how  to  use  nature's  forces,  use 
them  wisely,  develops  the  man,  and  that  is  what  these  forces 
are  for.     These  great  deposits  were  not  given  to   us  to 
waste.    While  they  may  amount  to  nothing  in  themselves, 
yet  they  amount  to  almost  infinite  value  when  we  take 
into  consideration  that  they  were  given  to  us  to  develop 
humanity  through  a  right  use  of  them  and  to  bring  out 
the  manhood  and  the  womanhood  of  this  country,  and  this 


304  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

right  use  develops  in  us  the  capacity  to  achieve  greater 
things  through  a  right  understanding,  and  that  is  what 
they  are  for,  and  that  is  why  I  say  the  people  of  this  coun- 
try have  an  interest  in  the  conservative  use  of  nature's 
forces. 

When  we  look  across  this  country  and  see  the  great 
shore  lines  and  the  rivers  and  the  lakes  for  commerce, 
when  we  see  the  fertile  soil  pregnant  with  vitality  when 
guided  by  intelligence,  when  we  see  the  great  forces  of  the 
coal  bodies,  the  mighty  forces  embraced  in  our  zinc,  lead, 
copper  and  iron  deposits,  we  find  there  the  things,  the  right 
use  of  which  makes  the  nation  mighty,  and  when  we  see 
the  great  mountains,  when  we  see  all  the  mighty  forces  for 
good,  and  all  that  can  be  accomplished  with  them,  we  be- 
lieve through  this  right  use  of  it  all,  we  can  be  a  blessing 
to  all  the  world.  I  believe  a  nation  that  can  produce  an 
Abraham  Lincoln  is  capable  of  producing  anything  almost. 
There  are  no  limitations  on  that  quality  of  production,  and 
that  character  of  manhood  adds  a  more  true  and  lasting 
wealth  to  our  nation  than  all  the  gold  and  silver  hidden  in 
those  great  mountains. 

We  must  intelligently  co-operate  to  learn  how  to  use 
these  forces  to  bring  out  of  men  that  greatest  good.  We 
have  infinite  capacity  if  we  will  only  learn  how  to  develop 
that  capacity,  and  use  it,  and  in  that  kind  of  development 
you  will  learn  how  to  enjoy.  The  miser  does  not  enjoy  any- 
thing. He  fears  everything.  There  is  not  a  spark  of  devel- 
opment in  him  that  brings  out  one  noble  impulse.  So  I  say 
that  we  want  to  learn  how  to  use  these  forces  in  co-opera- 
tion with  our  neighbor,  and  in  that  way  we  are  both 
blessed. 

I  think  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  assets  of  my  life 
that  in  this  work  for  the  Congress  I  have  come  in  contact 
with  just  such  men  as  sit  here  before  you.  Their  faces  tell 
what  they  are, 'and  whose  friendships  will  endure  as  long  as 
life  endures,  and  no  money  could  compensate  for  the  loss  of 
their  confidence  and  friendship.  I  say  that  if  you  take  hold 
of  these  things  'and  help  us  develop  them  in  this  nation, 
you  will  find  there  are  things  in  this  character  of  work  that 
have  a  value  absolutely  beyond  price  from  a  dollar  and 
cents  standpoint. 

Let  me  give  you  an  example  of  what  I  mean  by  intelli- 
gent co-operation  and  what  that  co-operation  is  doing. 
Take  the  Agricultural  Department  of  our  country.  We  all 
have  to  have  bread  to  eat,  and  we  all  have  to  procure  that 
from  agriculture,  from  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  and  from 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  305 

horticulture,  from  cultivation  of  the  garden.  Out  in  our 
country  in  those  little  communities  where  a  man  has  all 
he  can  do  to  farm  well  twenty  acres,  where  his  rainfall  is 
governed  by  human  intelligence,  where  farming  becomes 
scientific,  where  he  applies  the  water  to  the  plant  just  when 
it  needs  it  most,  and  he  sees  there  a  perfect  development, 
that  kind  of  horticulture  or  agriculture  makes  a  better  kind 
of  man  than  the  careless  farming  such  as  I  see  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  I  am  not  criticizing  you,  but  I  am  calling  at- 
tention to  the  carelessness  that  does  not  bring  out  the  best 
in  a  man.  We  asked  the  Government  to  help  the  farmer, 
and  it  has  created  the  Agricultural  Department,  and  that 
Department  is  spending  annually  $10,000,000  to  help  the 
farmers  of  this  country.  That  is  a  grand  work,  a  splendid 
one.  But  they  are  not  doing  enough  in  that  direction;  With 
that  character  of  co-operation  by  which  they  investigate  in 
each  state  through  their  experimental  stations  and  the  Ag- 
ricultural Colleges,  they  are  finding  out  what  can  be  done 
best  by  intelligence  in  those  states,  and  thTough  that  we 
are  developing  better  farmers  because  they  are  better  men. 
Intelligence  applied  to  farming  brings  results  just  as  well 
as  intelligence  applied  to  the  products  of  the  mine  or  any 
other  industry  or  undertaking.  The  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment has  nine  bureaus  in  which  this  scientific  work  is  go- 
ing on.  I  will  read  them  to  you.  First  is  that  of  Animal 
Industry.  I  don't  know  of  anything  to  help  develop  a  man 
into  a  better  man,  than  to  teach  him  how  to  raise  animals 
properly.  Way  back  in  the  past,  our  ancestors  lived  by  the 
destruction  of  animal  life,  but  they  learned  after  that  a 
little  care  devoted  to  animal  life  produced  better  results 
than  cruelty  and  slaughter  and  murder,  and  as  we  have 
gone  along  down  the  ages  we  find  that  when  intelligence, 
kindness,  love  and  affection  are  devoted  to  our  animal  life 
that  that  animal  life  responds  in  kind.  You  take  the  little 
broncho  of  the  Western  plains,  vicious  little  brute  because 
he  had  vicious  treatment.  He  could  not  develop  into  a  big, 
noble  horse,  because  he  had  no  kind  of  treatment  that  would 
bring  out  the  best  in  his  nature.  As  I  said  last  night,  kind- 
ness and  love  are  what  the  world  demands  and  is  crying 
for  at  this  hour  in  every  experience  of  life  from  the  vege- 
table to  the  animal  kingdom  of  this  country.  If  you  want 
to  bring  out  the  best  that  is  in  a  horse,  treat  him  kindly. 
Educate  him,  don't  break  him — educate  him.  Man  was  cre- 
ated to  have  dominion  over  the  earth,  and  he  will  never 
have  dominion  through  war  and  cruelty,  but  through  kind- 
ness and  intelligence.  That  is  the  way  to  get  dominion  and 
come  into  our  rightful  heritage. 


306  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

The  next  is  the  Plant  Bureau  or  industry.  You  will 
find  that  the  strawberry  vine  will  respond  in  wonderful  de- 
grees to  kindness  and  affectionate  care.  It  is  affection  that 
brought  forth  those  plants,  not  cruelty,  not  murder.  If  you 
want  to  beautify  and  adorn  the  earth,  let  love  shine  out 
in  everything  you  do,  and  you  will  find  that  everything  will 
respond  in  kind  to  you. 

We  all  hope  the  time  will  come  when  we  will  not  need 
to  learn  war  any  more.  Why,  "The  drying  up  of  a  single 
tear  has  more  of  honest  fame  than  shedding  seas  of  gore." 

The  next  is  Food,  and  you  know  how  much  the  Govern- 
ment has  helped  you  on  the  beef  question  and  other  things 
that  pertain  to  pure  food.  A  man  that  has  impure  food 
cannot  have  pure  thoughts.  "Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart, 
for  they  shall  see  Good."  A  corrupt  man  never  sees  Good. 
That  is  what  we  are  searching  for,  is  Good,  and  that  is  all. 
We  must  learn  how  to  search  for  it  in  that  direction.  Ideas 
rule  the  world — nations  and  individuals — therefore  let  us 
get  right  ideas  and  put  them  into  practice.  The  Golden  Rule 
put  into  practice  today  would  bring  the  millennium.  What 
we  need  is  common  honesty  in  our  dealings  with  our  neigh- 
bor. That  is  what  we  are  trying  to  do,  but  we  have  to  go 
a  long  way  around. 

The  next  is  the  insect  pest.  That  has  been  a  wonder- 
ful service  to  the  farmer  in  making  a  success  of  his  busi- 
ness. It  does  more — it  helps  to  make  the  man  better.  A 
man  that  can  grow  a  good  field  of  corn  is  better  than  the 
man  that  grows  a  poor  one.  % 

The  Weather  Bureau.  That  is  a  great  service,  to  the 
whole  country.  Then  we  have  the  question  of  soil,  where 
they  analyze  the  soil,  and  find  what  kind  of  soil  can  produce 
the  best  crop  and  give  the  best  results,  and  when  you  study 
those  soils  and  understand  them,  you  will  have  a  high  re- 
gard for  the  soil,  and  the  soil  will  respond  in  kind  that  you 
devote  to  it.  If  kindness  and  intelligence  is  applied  to  the 
soil,  that  soil  will  respond  to  that  kind  of  treatment.  If 
you  are  a  careless,  cruel,  narrow  man,  your  soil  will  re- 
spond just  that  way,  and  so  will  everything  else  in  nature. 

We  can  find  in  this  world  just  what  we  hunt  for.  If 
you  want  trouble  you  will  find  it  anywhere.  If  you  want 
success,  you  cannot  fail,  if  you  will  hunt  success  along  true 
lines.  It  is  just  as  certain  *  as  a  mathematical  problem.  I 
might  quote  a  little  Scripture,  to  show  that  I  am  somewhat 
familiar  with  the  Good  Book.  Many  of  us  have  a  great  deal 
of  trouble  fretting  and  worrying  and  wasting  our  energy 
over  things  that  never  happen.  What  did  the  Great  Master 
tell  us?  We  are  fretting  about  what  kind  of  clothes  we 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  307 

are  going  to  have,  arid  the  kind  of  homes  we  are  going  to 
have,  and  Ave  want  wealth  and  comfort  and  we  fret  about 
it.  He  said,  "Fret  not  thyself,  saying  what  shall  we  eat  or 
what  shall  we  drink,  or  wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed. 
Seek  you  first  the  Kingdom  of  Good  and  His  righteousness 
(or  right  thinking)  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added 
unto  you."  It  is  the  same  as  twice  two  is  four.  When  you 
undertake  to  solve  a  problem  in  mathematics,  follow  the 
rule.  Seek  the  truth  and  follow  it,  and  you  cannot  help 
getting  correct  results.  The  same  way  with  any  work  we 
are  doing.  We  are  trying  to  get  intelligent  co-operation. 
If  we  get  this  on  the  part  of  the  Government,  success  is  a 
certainty. 

Now  we  have  another  bureau  called  the  Koad  Bureau, 
and  we  have  met  with  a  splendid  example  in  this  country 
on  good  roads.  In  all  my  travels  in  the  West  and  Middle 
West,  I  have  not  found  as  good  roads  as  you  have  here. 
I  think  you  are  better  for  it.  You  make  your  neighbor  bet- 
ter by  your  good  roads.  You  reach  every  man  here  tonight 
thinking  about  your  roads  and  he  will  bear  this  in  mind 
and  when  he  goes  home  he  will  help  to  get  good  roads  there. 
Thus  we  co-operate  along  all  lines,  and  think  better  of  each 
other  for  it. 

Then  we  have  experimental  stations  to  help  experiment 
on  all  these  things.  They  have  searched  the  world  over  to 
find  new  seeds,  new  grasses,  new  fruits  and  new  methods 
to  help  the  farmer  produce  a  greater  quantity  of  the  product 
and  better  quality.  In  the  degree  a  man  develops  in  quality 
he  will  produce  a  higher  quality  of  grazing  or  horticultural 
products.  Only  to  that  extent  can  he  do  it. 

That  is  what  the  Government  is  doing  for  the  farmer 
with  these  nine  bureaus.  Now  this  work  that  we  are  under- 
taking, you  can  see  from  what  I  have  said  so  far,  is  largely 
educational.  This  is  one  of  the  essential  things  in  a  gov- 
ernment of  the  people,  because  its  progress  depends  entirely 
upon  the  intelligence  and  understanding  of  that  people. 
Therefore  it  requires  education  all  the  time.  I  find  that  the 
miner,  the  ordinary  miner  that  you  talk  about,  can  teach 
me  and  you  many  a  good  lesson.  That  is  why  we  invite 
him  in  this  Congress  to  co-operate  with  us  as  well  as  the 
operator,  because  the  operator  can  be  taught  many  a  good 
lesson  by  the  miner.  The  operator  does  not  know  it  all, 
neither  does  the  miner,  but  if  we  get  together  we  will  get 
the  benefit  of  all  of  the  experience  and  each  will  be  bene- 
fitted. 

We  have  agricultural  colleges  established  in  each  state. 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  last  Sabbath  a  week  ago 


308  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

in  the  Agricultural  College  of  Illinois.  It  is  a  wonderful 
institution.  It  is  wonderful  what  they  are  doing  there  to 
prepare  the  young  man  to  work  upon  a  higher  plane,  to 
bring  out  the  best  in  Nature,  by  bringing  out  the  best  that 
is  in  him. 

I  think  that  the  mine  operator  in  this  Middle  West  and 
the  East  needs  educating  some  along  these  lines,  because 
I  thoroughly  believe  that  if  he  participates  in  this  eff oil 
to  get  national  co-operation,  he  will  find  that  he  is  bene- 
fited, an'd  I  believe  that  many  of  them  realize  that  to  a 
large  extent,  some  of  them  much  more  than  I  do,  perhaps, 
because'!  have  talked  With  them  in  Chicago,  Springfield, 
Indianapolis  and  Pittsburg  last  week,  and  they  are  willing 
to  co-operate  with  us  in  this  great  work  in  the  future. 

The  Agricultural  Department  is  sending  out  publica- 
tions for  the  benefit  of  the  farmers  by  the  millions  so  that 
the  farmer  has  something  absolutely  reliable,  written  by 
men  who  understand,  to  guide  him  in  his  work  of  agricul- 
ture and  horticulture.  I  don't  know  why  the  miner  should 
not  be  helped  that  way  just  as  well  as  the  farmer,  not  be- 
cause one  is  better  than  the  other,  but  because  both  need 
it.  (Applause.) 

When  we  look  back  over  the  history  of  this  country 
as  a  matter  of  education,  we  find  it  took  many  gatherings 
of  the  people  like  we  have  here  to-night,  it  took  much  dis- 
cussion and  thought  to  even  let  the  people  understand  how 
to  found  this  Government.  It  has  taken  many  gatherings 
and  much  thought  and  much  argument  to  keep  the  people 
educated  up  to  the  condition  that  was  necessary  to  keep 
this  government  moving  on  and  progressing,  and  it  will 
continue  to  take  many  gatherings  in  the  future  to  keep  this 
educational  work  going  on  because  it  is  by  gathering  to- 
gether and  seeing  our  needs  and  learning  from  each  other, 
that  we  grow. 

It  is  the  individuality  of  the  American  citizen  that 
makes  America  great,  that  makes  the  American  citizen  rec- 
ognized as  an  individual  throughout  the  world  because  he 
dares  think  for  himself,  and  expresses  his  thoughts  on  all 
occasions,  and  it  is  this  interchange  of  ideas  that  brings  out 
the  best  things,  not  for  controversy,  but  to  bring  out  the 
truth. 

I  think  the  public  at  large  has  a  very  false  idea  of  min- 
ing. I  heard  some  one  say  since  we  have  been  here  that 
a  prospect  or  a  mine  was  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  a  liar 
at  one  end  of  it,  or  something  like  that.  Now  is  that  your 
idea  of  a  mine  or  a  prospect?  If  so,  you  have  not  the  first 
glimpse  of  the  wonders  of  a  mine.  I  have  just  recently  vis- 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  309 

ited  a  great  mine  in  my  own  state,  and  I  went  in  there  two 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel,  and  there  I  saw  a  great 
body  of  galena  ore  120  feet  thick  between  the  walls.  Is 
that  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  a  liar  at  one  end  of  it? 
It  is  something  more  than  that.  They  are  handling  in 
that  great  mine  4,000  tons  a  day,  taking  f  500,000  annually 
to  buy  the  timber  alone  that  they  use  in  that  mine — and  we 
have  many  of  them.  Let  the  people  understand  that  a  mine 
means  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  a  liar  in  it?  No.  There 
is  no  truth  in  that.  We  want  to  learn  how  to  find  the  truth 
about  mining.  (Applause.)  Why,  don't  you  know  that  it 
is  the  virtue  of  mining  that  makes  it  possible  for  the  dis- 
honest man  to  take  advantage  of  individuals?  If  it  were 
not  possible  to  get  such  mighty  results  as  we  get  from  min- 
ing, it  would  not  be  possible  to  float  these  fraudulent  stocks 
which  are  being  sold  in  this  country  by  the  dishonest  pro- 
moter? You  may  dig  a  hole  in  the  ground  and  make  mil- 
lions out  of  it.  That  is  why  the  dishonest  promoter  under- 
takes to  mine  that  vein  in  human  nature  which  we  call  the 
"get-rich-quick  get-something-for-nothing"  streak  in  human- 
ity instead  of  mining  out  of  the  ground.  It  may  be  true 
that  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  lie,  but  nearness 
lends  enchantment  to  the  truth  at  all  times.  'Bring  the 
skeptical  man  with  you  if  you  want  him  to  see  the  truth. 

So  I  say  if  we  understood  mining  in  its  scientific  sense, 
through  co-operation  with  the  best  minds  in  our  country, 
and  on  the  part  of  the  Government  we  would  change  this 
theory  of  mining.  I  have  lived  in  mining  communities  now 
for  thirty  years.  I  want  to  say  to  you  that  I  have  no  ques- 
tion that  in  mining,  if  a  man  will  pay  the  same  attention 
to  it  that  he  will  to  merchandising  or  banking,  that  he  will 
make  a  larger  percentage  of  profit  than  in  any  business  that 
I  know  of.  (Applause.)  It  is  a  mere  question  of  under- 
standing. There  is  no  use  in  a  man  going  into  business  and 
undertaking  to  succeed  at  it  when  he  is  ignorant  of  how  to 
succeed.  Mining  requires  skill,  courage,  judgment,  knowl- 
edge— and  when  you  have  it,  and  pursue  mining  intelli- 
gently, it  is  the  most  certain  of  returns  of  any  industry  with 
which  I  am  familiar,  and  I  say  the  American  people  need 
to  be  educated  upon  the  subject  of  mining. 

Why,  when  you  look  at  your  great  coal  mine,  isn't  there 
a  chance  to  win  certainly  out  of  these  great  coal  mines  if 
you  go  at  it  intelligently,  and  if  we  are  honest  we  can  al- 
ways get  all  the  money  we  want  to  develop  the  property? 
Look  at  the  great  iron  mines.  Is  it  not  safe  to  say  you 
are  getting  an  honest  deal  when  you  go  into  an  iron  mine? 
Take  the  great  steel  trust — they  never  need  to  look  for  mil- 


310  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

lions  to  develop  their  great  iron  industry.  It  is  a  good  in- 
vestment. And  so  with  many  other  branches  like  copper 
and  lead  and  zinc.  I  think  we  find  in  Idaho,  out  in  that 
wild  and  woolly  West,  that  we  can  teach  you  many  lessons 
about  how  to  save  out  of  the  ore  after  you  have  mined  it 
and  crushed  it  and  jigged  it,  you  haven't  got  it  all  yet, 
There  is  profit  to  a  large  extent,  even  in  this  community  in 
the  portion  that  is  being  wasted.  You  have  no  right  to 
waste  it.  It  belongs  to  the  public,  to  the  people  of  this 
country,  and  you  ought  to  use  scientific  methods  by  which 
those  things  are  saved,  because  there  is  clean  profit  in  it. 

Let  me  give  you  some  idea  of  the  character  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  American  Mining  Congress,  so  that  you 
can  see  as  to  its  plan  of  organization.  It  is  a  corporation 
not  based  on  capital  stock  but  based  on  membership,  where 
each  member  has  a  right  to  vote  and  participate  in  all  mat- 
ters that  pertain  to  that  organization,  electing  directors, 
laying  its  plans,  and  everything  that  pertains  to  it.  We 
have  also  in  connection  with  that  under  our  by-laws  a  dele- 
gate system,  because  we  believe  that  many  men  who  are 
not  willing  to  become  members  because  they  may  not  feel 
able  to  attend  every  session  or  pay  the  amount  that  is  neces- 
sary to  become  members,  may  come  occasionally  and  bring 
with  them  some  splendid  ideas.  The  delegate  helps  give  us 
the  necessary  enthusiasm.  He  helps  to  keep  us  out  of  a 
rut,  and  we  find  him  a  very  useful  element  in  the  Congress. 
The  delegate  has  the  same  right  in  all  deliberations  of  this 
body  at  the  sessions  that  the  members  have  except  in  vot- 
ing for  directors.  That  is  a  legal  question  and  only  mem- 
bers have  the  right  to  vote  upon  that  question. 

We  have  established,  because  it  seems  necessary,  per- 
manent headquarters.  Our  records  got  to  be  quite  volumi- 
nous-^-we  needed  a  place  where  they  could  be  preserved, 
because  we  have  addresses  and  papers  of  great  value  which 
must  be  stored  away  for  use  in  the  future.  It  is  necessary 
that  we  have  one  place  where  the  officer,  the  Secretary 
of  the  organization,  can  be  communicated  with  between  ses- 
sions, so  we  have  that  particular  place,  our  headquarters, 
at  Denver,  Colorado.  The  annual  session  can  be  held  any- 
where in  the  United  States.  I  want  to  make  a  suggestion 
on  that  because  always  at  these  sessions  a  contest  arises 
for  the  location  of  the  next  session.  The  directors  have  the 
power  to  locate  the  session,  or,  rather,  I  would  say, 
ratify  the  action  of  the  delegates  and  members,  because 
something  might  arise  by  which  after  the  session  had  ad- 
journed, it  would  be  impossible  or  impracticable  to  go  to 
the  place  selected.  Some  power  must  be  lodged  somewhere. 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT  311 

The  Board  might  find  it  necessary  to  change  the  location. 

Now,  the  annual  sessions  at  present  are  quite  impor- 
tant. It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  make  a  suggestion  or 
two.  A  gentleman  in  Chicago,  I  think  it  was,  asked  me 
why  we  didn't  come  to  the  East  years  ago.  "Well,"  I  said, 
"in  the  first  place,  in  my  judgment  you  never  could  have 
started  an  organization  like  this  in  the  East.  They  are  too 
busy  making  dollars.  But  we  wanted  it  started  in  the 
West  and  we  just  had  to  make  it  respectable  and  respected 
and  we  believe  that  we  have  done  that,  and  now  we  are 
coming  East  and  we  are  going  to  educate  you,  and  you  will 
educate  us  on  these  great  questions.  We  will  co-operate 
on  these  lines  because  something  good  can  come  out  of  the 
West."  That  is  about  as  brief  an  outline  as  I  can  make  of 
the  plan  of  the  organization. 

Don't  you  know  that  a  great  many  people  still  have 
the  idea  that  one  of  the  purposes  of  our  great  Government, 
is  war?    That  is  a  false  idea,  and  that  idea,  if  the  Govern- 
ment cultivates  it  among  the  individuals,  then  the  individu- 
al thinks  that  his  attitude  is  to  make  war  on  his  neighbor 
instead  of  working  with  him.    He  undertakes  always  to  get 
the  best  of  him,  to  get  something  from  him  that  does  not 
belong  to  him,  and  that  creates  a  bad  tendency,  and  we  are 
tending  too  much  toward  the  idea  of  war  in  our  industrial 
progress  in  this  country,  instead  of  co-operation.    During  the 
Middle  Ages,  a  nation  could  not  be  great  unless  it  was  great  in 
war;  in  the  destruction  of  life,  liberty,  property  and  progress. 
That  is  what  it  means.     There  is  nothing  so  disastrous  to 
progress  as  war,  whether  war  of  individuals,  communities, 
states,  corporations  or  nations.     We  must  learn  to  over- 
come this  tendency  to  wrar,  and  learn  to  co-operate.    I  think 
it  was  Jefferson  who  said  in  his  first  inaugural  address  as 
defining  his  idea  of  this  Government:    "It  should  prevent 
men  from  injuring  one  another  and  leave  them  otherwise 
free."    That  was  true  at  his  time,  but  it  is  outgrown  today. 
If  this  government  is  only  going  to  prevent  you  and  me 
from  injuring  each  other  and  leave  us  otherwise  free,  then 
we  have  lost  the  precious  jewel  of  all  progress.     It  must 
help  the  individual  to  grow,  it  must  co-operate  with  the 
man  who  is  trying  to  better  conditions,  it  must  not  only 
restrain  evil,  but  it  must  uphold  the  good  tendencies  and 
encourage  them.    The  Government  is  growing  in  the  right 
direction,  as  this  Congress  and  other  Congresses  of  its  kind 
will  show.     We  are  trying  to  uphold  men  who  are  trying 
to  do  good,  discourage  evil  and  strengthen  good.    The  mod- 
ern idea  does  not  mean  war,  it  does  not  mean  protection 
merely,  it  means  development.    That  means  bring  out  of  us 


312  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

those  energies  which  we  have,  if  we  can  only  learn  how  to 
use  them  wisely.  We  have  all  within  us  what  is  necessary 
for  infinite  happiness  if  we  can  learn  how  to  bring  it  out, 
and  in  bringing  it  out  of  ourselves  we  bring  it  out  of  Na- 
ture in  the  form  of  blossoms  and  fruit.  It  is  a  wonderful 
thought.  There  are  no  limitations  to  hinder  our  progress. 
It  makes  a  man  feel  free  without  limit  when  he  thinks  of 
those  things  and  undertakes  to  do  them.  We  want  develop- 
ment of  the  individual^  We  don't  want  to  destroy  individual 
development,  but  don't  you  see  that  you  and  I  can  develop 
better  by  working  together  than  we  can  by  working  singly. 
Let  me  supplement  what  you  are  capable  of  with  myself, 
and  we  will  both  be  the  better  for  it.  It  is  development 
that  we  want,  in  communities  and  with  a  nation.  I  need 
not  go  into  details  with  that  further.  Our  Government  was 
organized  as  a  means,  not  as  an  end.  It  is  not  the  end. 
It  is  organized  to  help  you  to  work  together  and  be  men  and 
women.  It  is  an  instrument  by  which  we  are  doing  that, 
but  it  is  not  the  end,  any  more  than  war  is.  We  feel  that 
our  Government  is  lacking  in  one  thing.  We  feel  that  while 
it  is  helping  agriculture  it  should  do  more  in  that  direction, 
but  it  is  making  it  sort  of  lop-sided  or  top-heavy  by  giving 
so  much  to  one  side,  and  not  building  up  the  other  side  of 
the  Nation's  wealth  in  an  industry.  We  have  many  depart- 
ments— the  Department  of  State,  War  Department,  Navy 
Department,  Department  of  Justice  acting  through  the  At- 
torney General,  and  those  departments  are  necessary  in  or- 
der to  execute  the  form  of  Government  at  all.  Then  we 
add  to  that  other  departments  which  are  both  executive  and 
I  might  say  industrial,  that  go  directly  to  the  welfare  of 
the  people,  like  the  Postal  Department,  Interior  Depart- 
ment. Then  we  have  a  third  which  goes  directly  to  the 
general  welfare,  like  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and 
the  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  and  we  want  a 
Department  of  Mining  to  bring  out  the  mining  interests. 

Eight  here  let  me  say  to  you  that  for  ten  years  this 
Congress  has  been  undertaking  to  get  that  work  started. 
The  Board  of  Directors  sent  me  down  to  Washington  to 
see  what  could  be  done  there.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
first  the  director  of  the  Geological  Survey  whom  you  heard 
speak  since  you  have  met  here — a  splendid  character — earn- 
est, sincere,  doing  everything  in  his  power  to  be  faithful  and 
true  to  the  great  trust  that  was  reposed  to  his  keeping.  I 
found  quite  a  sympathetic  nature  in  him.  We  did  not  agree 
upon  all  things  and  it  is  very  good  that  we  did  not.  The 
fact  that  we  did  not  agree  shows  there  is  development  in 
both,  or  one,  of  us,  anyhow.  But  I  tell  you  he  is  a  big,  earn- 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS    OP    THEl    PRESIDENT  3l3 

est  man,  in  sympathy  with  the  plan  of  work  we  are  trying 
to  carry  on  and  we  can  trust  him  as  a  Mend  of  this  Congress 
to  help  carry  out  the  great  work  we  have  undertaken.  I 
then  had  the  pleasure  of  going  to  see  Secretary  Garfield, 
another  great,  big,  strong  American  man.  At  first  he  said 
"No."  Second,  he  said,  "I  may  be  mistaken  about  this." 
And,  third,  he  said:  "You  are  entitled  to  it  and  I  will  help 
you  get  it."  (Applause.)  He  promised  to  write  me  a  letter 
that  I  might  bring  to  read  to  you  to-night,  but  owing  to  the 
delays  in  the  mails,  or  something,  it  has  not  reached  here 
at  this  time  but  may  before  the  Congress  adjourns,  and  I 
feel  very  grateful  to  him  for  the  encouragement  he  gives. 
But  the  first  real,  direct  encouragement  I  received  in  Wash- 
ington was  from  Senator  Heyburn  of  Idaho  and  I  will  ask 
the  Secretary  to  read  the  letter  at  this  time. 

(Secretary  then  read  the  letter.) 

Senator  Heyburn  will  do  anything  in  his  power  to  help 
us  in  this  work.  Senator  Hemingway  of  Indiana  will  also. 
Mr.  Dalzell  and  others  will  aid,  and  I  feel  we  will  get  a 
Bureau  of  Mines — an  independent  bureau,  because,  in  addi- 
tion to  this  I  had  the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  the  President 
of  the  United  States.  He  is  a  very  strong  character,  and  is 
like  a  steel  trap.  He  said:  "What  do  you  mining  men 
want?"  I  said:  "We  want  results;  we  don't  care  what  you 
name  it."  He  said:  "I  will  recommend  a  Bureau  of  Mines 
in  my  next  message.  I  have  a  part  of  it  outlined  already. 
Will  that  suit  you?"  I  said:  "That  is  all  we  ask.  Good-bye, 
Mr.  Roosevelt."  Quick  work  by  a  quick  man,  and  that  is 
the  way  we  expect  that  bill  to  pass,  or  else  they  will  hear 
from  us  in  Washington  again. 

There  are  two  great  basic  industries  in  this  country, 
and  only  two,  from  which  all  the  forces  that  we  have  to 
use  in  our  development  are  derived,  and  those  two  are  min- 
ing and  agriculture.  They  cover  it  all.  They  ought  to  be 
developed  side  by  side,  harmoniously,  and  not  lop-sided.  I 
cannot  understand  why  the  American  miner  is  not  just  as 
much  entitled  to  encouragement  and  help  as  the  American 
farmer.  They  both  need  it  and  must  have  it.  We  started 
out  to  fight  it  out  on  these  lines  and  will  do  it  if  it  takes 
twenty-five  years.  We  are  going  to  be  heard. 

I  might  go  on  and  tell  you  the  lack  of  legislation  by 
which  the  forests  have  been  wasted  and  by  which  coal  lands 
have  been  wasted.  The  miner  goes  out  into  these  mountain 
fastnesses.  He  finds  there  the  mineral,  and  behind  him 
comes  the  men  with  money,  and  he  sees  the  forests  going 
into  the  hands  of  the  few,  and  with  the  timber  goes  the  min- 
eral in  many  cases.  He  sees  the  coal  lands  going  into  the 


314  PROCEEDINGS    AMERICAN    MINING    CONGRESS 

hands  of  the  few,  and  he  is  up  in  these  great  hills  and  there 
is  nothing  left  for  him — no  ore,  no  timber,  no  pasture.  But 
he  understands  the  use  of  dynamite  and  he  uses  it.  I  told 
the  President  of  these  conditions — that  they  were  the  con- 
ditions that  produced  the  "undesirable  citizen"  you  are  talk- 
ing about,  and  we  want  those  conditions  remedied.  I  say 
we  should  remedy  those  conditions  that  make  those  citizens. 

I  might  go  into  all  those  things  but  I  will  not  do  it. 
The  effective  work  of  this  Congress  depends  upon  the  prac- 
tical questions  that  affect  us  every  day,  and  the  character 
of  the  men  that  handle  these  questions.  When  you  come 
to  the  Congress  and  hear  men  read  papers  and  discuss 
things,  one  man  will  do  you  more  good  in  five  minutes  than 
the  other  would  in  five  weeks,  because  it  is  in  him.  He 
understands  it,  and  is  trying  to  tell  you  about  it.  We  are 
trying  to  bring  the  people  in  contact  with  the  practical 
miner  that  knows  how  to  do  things.  We  are  trying  to  get 
a  program  which  will  bring  out  the  more  practical  phases 
in  this  work.  They  will  attract  attention  by  the  manner 
in  which  they  are  presented. 

Now  take  the  question  of  low  grade  ores.  What  a  won- 
derful thing  in  a  community  where  you  have  vast  bodies 
of  low  grade  ore  and  the  miner  is  undertaking  to  develop 
a  claim,  he  finds  the  ore,  he  gets  out  a  few  tons  and  ships 
it,  and  the  railroad  charges  him  about  five  times  as  much 
as  it  is  charging  the  larger  shipper,  and  then  it  comes  to 
the  smelter  and  what  the  railroad  did  not  take,  the  smelter 
takes,  and  he  has  nothing  left  but  dynamite,  and  he  uses  it. 
I  am  not  defending  him  in  that,  but  I  say  those  conditions 
bring  about  those  results  because  a  man  has  no  redress. 
The  government  does  not  help  him;  does  not  defend  his 
rights.  I  am  acquainted  with  those  conditions  in  that 
Western  country.  There  is  no  better-hearted,  more  gener- 
ous, noble,  brave  manhood  in  this  country  than  you  will 
find  in  our  Western  mining  country.  (Applause.)  They 
are  the  young  men  that  came  from  the  East,  educated,  many 
of  them  great  big  men,  but  they  have  rights,  and  they  ought 
to  be  helped  and  encouraged  because  they  will  help  to  make 
a  great  nation  and  a  great  people.  Let  me  suggest,  you  will 
hear  a  report  from  the  committee  investigating  smelter 
rates:  We  take  this  position.  We  want  the  smelter  to 
prosper  and  to  make  money.  We  want  it  liberally  rewarded 
but  there  is  a  condition  in  this  country  where  great  corpora- 
tions undertake  to  render  you  an  important  service,  and 
we  know  nothing  about  the  value  of  that  service  at  all, 
and  we  have  to  pay  just  what  they  arbitrarily  say.  We 
have  to  pay  it.  There  is  an  element  of  injustice  in  that  that 


ANNUAL,    ADDRESS    OP    THE    PRESIDENT  315 

the  people  of  the  United  States  will  not  submit  to  many 
hundred  years  longer.  When  I  render  you  a  service,  you 
are  entitled  to  know  something  about  the  value  of  that  ser- 
vice to  you  and  pay  accordingly,  and  when  the  entire  know- 
ledge is  on  one  side  and  helplessness  on  the  other,  somebody 
should  come  into  the  arena  and  bring  out  better  conditions. 
There  is  a  controversy  going  on  between  the  miner  and 
smelter.  We  are  determined,  if  possible,  to  bring  those  two 
elements  together  so  that  they  can  both  prosper  in  a  higher 
degree  than  ever  before. 

Take  the  question  of  labor.  We  meet  it  out  in  our 
country,  but  I  believe  as  much  as  I  believe  anything  that 
the  labor  unions  came  forth  in  this  country  as  a  cry  for 
justice.  That  is  what  made  the  labor  unions  come  out  as 
they  have,  but  they  must  be  conducted  so  that  that  instru- 
ment which  was  intended  to  bring  justice  shall  not  be  con- 
verted into  an  instrument  of  injustice,  as  they  are  doing  in 
many  cases.  That  is  one  of  the  works  we  are  going  to  un- 
dertake to  do,  to  bring  these  elements  on  a  plane  that  will 
bless  both  of  them. 

I  might  go  on  and  tell  you  all  the  mutual  benefits  that 
would  come  to  us  from  co-operation  but  I  will  close  with 
this  one  thought  that  sentiment  in  mining  in  my  judgment 
is  its  most  valuable  asset.  I  mean  that  sentiment  that  en- 
ables a  promoter  when  he  attempts  to  interest  you  and  me 
to  join  him  in  a  mining  venture — that  he  should  possess  that 
sentiment  that  compels  him  to  do  everything  in  his  power 
to  make  that  a  proper  venture  and  not  a  dishonest  one.- 
This  can  only  be  surpassed  by  that  other  sentiment  in  mine 
management  by  which  every  employe  truly  co-operates  with 
the  management,  and  the  management  with  the  employe, 
not  only  to  bring  the  best  out  of  the  mine  but  the  best  out 
of  the  men,  that  all  may  be  truly  benefited.  That  is  the 
sentiment  that  is  the  most  valuable  asset  in  all  mining  and 
all  industries  and  out  of  this  character  of  co-operation  you 
will  find  will  come  in  this  country  great  American  charac- 
ters, great  enough  and  grand  enough  to  match  these  great 
mountains  and  plains  and  in  whose  lives  of  achievements 
the  whole  nation  will  take  pride,  and  like  the  life  of  Lin- 
coln, will  add  a,  crowning  glory  to  modern  civilization. 
I  thank  you.  (Applause.) 


•*• 


YC  0!63i 


18324 


